hei2 jing4 jyu1 sik1喜形於色喜形于色

Jyutpinghei2 jing4 jyu1 sik1

Yalehéi yìhng yū sīk

語句

Definition

To beam with joy; to have one's happiness clearly visible on one's face.

colloquialemotiondescriptions

How it's used

This idiom describes a state where inner happiness is so intense that it becomes impossible to hide, manifesting clearly on one's face. While it is a formal four-character idiom, it is frequently used in daily speech to describe someone who is visibly beaming or unable to contain their excitement. It carries a slightly literary tone compared to saying someone 好開心, but it remains perfectly acceptable in casual conversation.

Examples

keoi5佢gin3見dou2到fan2份lai5禮mat6物go2嗰zan6陣，zan1真hai6係hei2喜jing4形jyu1於sik1色aa4呀。

He was really flushed with joy when he saw the gift.

zou6做me1咩gam3咁hei2喜jing4形jyu1於sik1色aa4呀？hai6係mai6咪zung1中zo2咗zoeng2獎aa4呀？

Why are you looking so happy? Did you win a prize?

Common phrases

hei2喜jing4形jyu1於sik1色gam3咁

in a way that shows joy on one's face

Common mistake

Learners often mistake this for a general way to say happy, but it specifically implies that the emotion is leaking out through facial expressions or body language. It is not used to describe a calm or quiet sense of contentment.