乐

樂
lè
#619 most
frequent character
happy, laugh, cheerful
adjective
verb

Character breakdown

Source: Make Me a Hanzi.

乐 is shorthand for 樂, a picture of a stringed instrument with silk over wood. Its first meaning was music. Read lè, the meaning grew to happy and to laugh.

Drawn as: stringed instrument; silk threads over wood

乐 as a component in other characters

sound7 characters
烁砾栎跞铄泺轹

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Example Sentences

我很快乐。
wǒ hěn kuàilè 。
I am very happy.
孩子们在公园里笑着玩。
háizǐ mén zài gōngyuán lǐ xiào zháo wán 。
The children are laughing and playing in the park.
她是一个乐观的人。
tāshì yígè lèguān de rén 。
She is an optimistic person.

Same Characters, Different Readings

乐lào
used in place names
乐Le4
surname Le
乐Yue4
surname Yue
乐yuè
music

Words with similar meanings

快乐kuàilè
happy
This word specifically conveys a sense of joy and pleasure.
开心kāixīn
joyful
This is a more casual and colloquial way to express happiness.

Homophones

勒lè
(literary) bridle, halter, headstall

Words Starting With 乐

乐观lè guān
optimistic; hopeful
乐意lè yì
to be willing to do sth; to be ready to do sth; to be happy to do sth; content; satisfied
乐趣lè qù
delight; pleasure; joy

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