喜出望外

1. Basic Information

• Pinyin: xǐ chū wàng wài
• English Translation: Overjoyed, pleasantly surprised, elated beyond expectations
• Idiom Composition: 「喜」（Joy, to rejoice）＋「出」（To exceed, to surpass）＋「望」（Hope, expectation）＋「外」（Outside, beyond）
• Meaning: Describes being extremely happy when something even better than expected happens. It expresses a mixture of surprise and joy in response to unexpected good fortune or success.

2. Detailed Meaning and Nuances

「喜出望外」 contains the following nuances:

• Unexpected joy: Refers not just to being happy, but to joy that was completely unexpected or far exceeds what was hoped for.
• Great joy: Expresses that the degree of joy is extremely great.
• Joy accompanied by surprise: Often includes feelings of surprise alongside the joy.

3. Usage

「喜出望外」 is mainly used in the following contexts:

• Reporting good results: Used when results exceed expectations, such as passing an exam, getting a promotion, or winning the lottery.
  • Example:「考试结果公布后，他发现自己竟然得了第一名，真是喜出望外。」
    （After the exam results were announced, he discovered that he had actually come in first place and was truly overjoyed.）
• Happy events: Used when there are happy surprises, such as unexpected reunions or surprise gifts.
  • Example:「收到大学录取通知书的那一刻，全家人都喜出望外。」
    （The moment they received the university acceptance letter, the entire family was overjoyed.）
• Describing success: Used to emphasize joy when achieving success after overcoming difficult situations.
  • Example:「他原本以为会失败，但结果却出乎意料地成功，让他喜出望外。」
    （He originally thought he would fail, but the result was unexpectedly successful, and he was overjoyed.）

Additional Examples:

1. 得知老朋友突然来访，她喜出望外，立刻出门迎接。
   （Learning that an old friend had suddenly come to visit, she was pleasantly surprised and immediately went out to greet them.）
2. 这个好消息让他喜出望外，整晚都兴奋得睡不着觉。
   （This good news left him overjoyed, and he was so excited he couldn't sleep all night.）
3. 经过多年的努力，他的研究终于取得了突破性进展，让他喜出望外。
   （After years of effort, his research finally achieved a breakthrough, and he felt joy beyond his expectations.）
4. 听到儿子在电话里说他一切都好，老夫妇俩喜出望外。
   （Hearing their son say he was doing well over the phone, the elderly couple was overjoyed.）
5. 她本来只是抱着试试看的心态参加比赛，没想到竟然获奖了，真是喜出望外。
   （She had originally entered the contest just to give it a try, never expecting to win, and was truly pleasantly surprised.）

4. Cultural Background and Notes

• '喜出望外' is a highly positive expression used to describe great joy. It is not suitable for mild happiness or sarcastic contexts.

5. Similar and Opposite Idioms

• Similar Idioms:
  • 喜从天降 (xǐ cóng tiān jiàng): Joy falling from heaven, being blessed with unexpected good fortune.
  • 喜不自胜 (xǐ bù zì shèng): To lose oneself in joy, to be extremely happy.
• Opposite Idioms:
  • 大失所望 (dà shī suǒ wàng): To be greatly disappointed, to be let down by something that didn't meet expectations.
  • 失望透顶 (shī wàng tòu dǐng): The height of disappointment, to be severely disheartened.

6. Summary

'喜出望外' is a highly positive idiom that expresses joy far exceeding expectations and the surprise and delight of unexpected good fortune. Using this idiom allows you to vividly express great joy and surprise that goes beyond simply feeling 'happy'.