Translation and Meaning of: 嬉しい - ureshii

If you're learning Japanese, you've probably come across the word 嬉しい (うれしい) at some point. It is one of those expressions that carries a genuine feeling of happiness, something that goes beyond a simple "happy." In this article, we will thoroughly explore the etymology, everyday usage, and even tips for memorizing this special kanji. Additionally, you will discover how the Japanese use this word in real situations and why it is so popular in the emotional vocabulary of the language. If you want to learn how to correctly write the ideogram or even phrases to include in your Anki, you're in the right place!

Origin and etymology of 嬉しい

The word 嬉しい has an interesting history. It is composed of the kanji 嬉, which itself carries the idea of joy or contentment. If we analyze the radicals, the left side (女) represents "woman," while the right side (喜) means "joy." Together, they create an almost poetic image: happiness that overflows, like a smile that cannot be contained. It's no wonder that this word is so often used to express true emotions.

In the ancient language, the term うれし (ureshi) already appeared in classical texts, often associated with moments of fulfillment or gratitude. Unlike other words that may have more superficial meanings, 嬉しい carries a greater emotional weight. Have you noticed how the Japanese smile subtly when they say "ureshii"? It’s as if the word itself brings a bit of that positive energy.

Lies in Japanese everyday life

In daily life, the Japanese use 嬉しい to express genuine happiness, especially in personal situations. If a friend surprises you with an unexpected gift, saying "ureshii!" sounds much more natural than a simple "arigatou." It also frequently appears in text messages, often accompanied by emojis or kaomojis to reinforce the sentiment. By the way, did you know that it is common to use 嬉しい even in professional emails when receiving good news?

An interesting curiosity is that, unlike Portuguese, where "happy" can be used in more generic contexts, 嬉しい (ureshii) has a more restricted use for truly special moments. For example, you will hardly hear a Japanese person saying "ureshii" just because the day is nice – for that, there are other expressions. This specificity makes the word even more powerful when it is used. Have you thought about how it would be to use "ureshii" the next time something really makes you happy?

Tips for memorization and writing

Memorizing the kanji 嬉 may seem complicated at first glance, but there is a simple trick: remember that it is the combination of "woman" (女) and "joy" (喜). Imagine a woman smiling with happiness and there you go – the ideogram comes to life in your mind! Another tip is to practice writing it several times, paying attention to the stroke order. The radical 女 comes first, followed by 喜, which in turn has its own components. How about grabbing a notebook and trying to write it right now?

To better solidify, an effective strategy is to create sentences with 嬉しい and review them in Anki or another spaced repetition app. For example: "友達から手紙をもらって、とても嬉しかったです" (I was very happy to receive a letter from my friend). Associating the word with real situations helps to internalize not only the meaning but also the emotional context behind it. So, are you ready to start using 嬉しい like a native?

Vocabulary

Expand your vocabulary with related words:

Synonyms and similar words

嬉しくて (ureshikute) - Feeling happy
嬉しさ (ureshisa) - Happiness (the state of being happy)
喜ばしい (yorokobashii) - Something that brings joy or is worthy of happiness
楽しい (tanoshii) - Fun, pleasant
愉快な (yukai na) - A feeling of joy and pleasure
幸福な (kōfuku na) - State of happiness, content
満足な (manzoku na) - Satisfied, pleased with something
気持ちいい (kimochi ii) - A good or pleasurable feeling
気分がいい (kibun ga ii) - Feeling good
うれしい (ureshii) - happy, content
うきうきする (ukiuki suru) - Feel excited, enthusiastic
ほくほくする (hokuhoku suru) - Feeling warm and satisfied
にこにこする (nikoniko suru) - Smile animatedly
笑顔になる (egao ni naru) - Stay with a smile
ハッピーな (happī na) - happy
ハイテンションな (hai tenshon na) - With high energy, lively
ワクワクする (wakuwaku suru) - Feel excitement or anticipation
ドキドキする (dokidoki suru) - Feeling anxiety or emotional palpitations
ニコニコする (nikoniko suru) - Smile joyfully
キラキラする (kirakira suru) - Shine or gleam, often associated with happiness
ピカピカする (pikapika suru) - Brilliant, clean, and in good condition
ハッピーになる (happī ni naru) - Becoming happy
ハッピーになれる (happī ni nareru) - Be able to become happy
ハッピーになりたい (happī ni naritai) - I want to be happy
ハッピーになりたいです (happī ni naritai desu) - I would like to be happy.

Related words

喜ぶ

yorokobu

be delighted; be happy

楽しむ

tanoshimu

to have fun

嬉しい

Romaji: ureshii
Kana: うれしい
Type: adjective
L: jlpt-n3

Translation / Meaning: happy; happy; pleasant

Meaning in English: happy;glad;pleasant

Definition: To feel joy and satisfaction.

Quick Access
- Vocabulary
- Writing
- Sentences

How to Write in Japanese - (嬉しい) ureshii

See below a step-by-step guide on how to write the word by hand in Japanese. (嬉しい) ureshii:

Example Sentences - (嬉しい) ureshii

See below some example sentences:

とても嬉しいです。

Totemo ureshii desu

I am really happy.

<とても>- means "a lot" in Japanese.
<嬉しい>- means "happy" in Japanese.
<です>- is a closing particle in Japanese that indicates an affirmative statement.

割引きがあると嬉しいです。

Waribiki ga aru to ureshii desu

I'm happy if there is a discount.

割引き - discount
が - subject particle
ある - verb "to exist"
と - condition particle
嬉しい - adjective "happy"
です - Verb "to be" in polite form

プレゼントをもらったら嬉しいです。

Puresento wo morattara ureshii desu

I'm happy if you get a gift.

プレゼント (presente) - object given as a gift
を (partícula de objeto) - Particle that marks the direct object of the sentence
もらったら (se receber) - conditional form of the verb もらう (receive), indicating a hypothetical action
嬉しい (feliz) - adjective that expresses the feeling of happiness
です (ser/estar) - linking verb indicating the existence or state of something

世辞を言われると嬉しいです。

Séji wo iwareru to ureshii desu

I'm happy when I get compliments.

Glad you are complained.

世辞 - praise
を - object particle
言われる - ser dito
と - connecting particle
嬉しい - happy
です - be (linking verb)

久し振りに会えて嬉しいです。

Hisashiburi ni aete ureshii desu

Glad to see you after so long.

Glad to meet you after a long time.

久し振りに - long time no see
会えて - finding
嬉しい - happy
です - is

抽選で当たったら嬉しいですね。

Chūsen de atattara ureshī desu ne

I'm happy if you win by lottery.

抽選 (chūsen) - raffle
で (de) - particle indicating the environment or place where something happens
当たったら (atattara) - if you win
嬉しい (ureshii) - Happy, content
です (desu) - Verb to be/estar in the present
ね (ne) - particle indicating a rhetorical question or seeking agreement from the interlocutor

私は嬉しいです。

Watashi wa ureshii desu

I'm happy.

I am happy.

私 (watashi) - signifies "I" in Japanese
は (wa) - grammatical particle that indicates the topic of the sentence
嬉しい (ureshii) - adjective meaning "happy" or "content"
です (desu) - auxiliary verb that indicates the present tense and formality of the sentence

褒美をもらうと嬉しいです。

Houbi wo morau to ureshii desu

Glad if you get a reward.