歓喜|かんきkanki[1]atamadaka (head-high)

1. noun, suru verb, intransitive verbdelight; great joy

• Synonym喜ぶよろこぶNeutralThe everyday verb for being glad or pleased, the most common choice; 「歓喜」 is more literary and much stronger.
• Synonym大喜びおおよろこびNeutralGreat delight, as in 「大喜びする」; natural in both speech and writing, and more everyday than 「歓喜」.
• Synonym喜びよろこびNeutralThe everyday noun for joy, with the broadest range of use; 「歓喜」 is stronger in degree and leans written.
• Synonym喜悦きえつWrittenWritten word for heartfelt joy, shown with restraint or openly, as in 「喜悦の声」. Close to 「歓喜」, but 「歓喜」 is the more common choice.
• Synonym愉悦ゆえつWrittenWritten word for pleasant delight that stresses savoring it, as in 「愉悦に浸る」; 「歓喜」 focuses on the joy itself.
• Synonym欣悦きんえつWrittenRare written word for quiet gladness felt within; its tone is milder and calmer than 「歓喜」.
• Related小躍りこおどりNeutralJumping up in delight; highlights the physical expression of joy, as in 「小躍りして喜ぶ」, while 「歓喜」 refers to the feeling itself.
• Related浮かれるうかれるNeutralVerb for being giddy and carried away with excitement, often with a frivolous, merry-making feel 「歓喜」 does not have.
• Related悦楽えつらくWrittenWritten word for pleasure with a sensual, indulgent flavor; 「歓喜」 is the great joy felt when something good happens.
• Related悦に入るえつにいるNeutralIdiom for gloating — taking satisfaction in what one has done or owns; 「歓喜」 is great joy over good things, with no self-satisfaction.
• Related歓楽かんらくWrittenWritten word for merrymaking and amusement, as in 「歓楽街」; 「歓喜」 is the great joy felt in one's heart.
• Related享楽きょうらくWrittenWritten word for the pursuit of pleasure, a hedonistic outlook with a slightly negative tinge 「歓喜」 does not carry.
• Related狂喜きょうきWrittenWritten word for joy even stronger than 「歓喜」 — being wild with delight, as in 「狂喜乱舞」.
• Related雀躍じゃくやくWrittenWritten word for leaping for joy, often in 「欣喜雀躍」; it foregrounds the jumping image more than 「歓喜」 does.
• Related愉楽ゆらくWrittenRare written word for the pleasure of heartily enjoying something; 「歓喜」 is the great joy felt when something good happens.
• Related快味かいみWrittenRare written word for the satisfying thrill of enjoying something; unlike 「歓喜」, it is not joy born of good fortune.
• Related歓天喜地かんてんきちWrittenFour-character idiom of Chinese origin for overwhelming joy; rare in writing, and in everyday speech 「大喜び」 or 「歓喜」 is the natural choice.
• Antonym悲哀ひあいWrittenWritten antonym for sorrow and pathos, the emotional opposite of 「歓喜」, as in 「人生の悲哀」.
• Antonym悲嘆ひたんWrittenWritten antonym for deep grief and lamentation, the opposite of 「歓喜」, as in 「悲嘆に暮れる」.
• Antonym憂愁ゆうしゅうWrittenWritten antonym for melancholy and dejection, standing at the opposite pole from the joy of 「歓喜」.

Use 「歓喜」 for intense, heartfelt joy, as in 「歓喜の声」. For everyday gladness pick 「喜ぶ」 or 「喜び」; 「大喜び」 works in both speech and writing. In formal prose 「喜悦」 also expresses joy, while 「愉悦」 stresses savoring the pleasure. For joy so strong one loses composure, use 「狂喜」. The antonyms are 「悲哀」 and 「悲嘆」.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

1. 喜よろこび。