How to say "joy" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 喜びよろこびnounThe word for joy as a felt emotion: delight or gladness, from quiet pleasure to rapture. Use it for joy at good news, the joy of a reunion, and similar feelings.
- 幸福こうふくnoun, na-adjectiveReally 'happiness' or 'well-being': a deep, lasting state rather than a passing feeling. Reach for it only when 'joy' means such enduring contentment, not a momentary delight.
- nounThe katakana loanword from English 'joy'. You will meet it mainly in personal and product names; it is seldom the word you want for the feeling itself — for that, 喜び is the natural choice.
- 楽しみたのしみnoun, na-adjectiveCovers joy in the sense of enjoyment or pleasure: the fun something gives you, or a pleasure to look forward to. For the emotion of joy itself, 喜び is the word instead.
Choose 「喜び」 for joy as a felt emotion, 幸福 when joy means lasting happiness or well-being, 「楽しみ」 for joy as enjoyment or something looked forward to, and 「ジョイ」 only as the katakana loanword, not for the emotion itself.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
See also
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