喜

Formed as a compound ideograph:

壴 — depicts a drum on a stand, with decorative elements, symbolizing music and festivity;

口 — mouth, representing singing or vocal expression.

Together, the image is of people singing while beating a drum, symbolizing joy, celebration, and delight.

Semantic range:

- joy, happiness (기쁘다, 즐겁다, 행복하다);

- to rejoice, take pleasure in (기뻐하다);

- to be pleased or delighted with something;

- used in compounds for festive occasions and positive emotions.

The character often appears in festive contexts, such as the doubled form 囍 (쌍희), commonly used in East Asian wedding decorations to symbolize “double happiness.”

혼희 (婚喜) — wedding celebration

희락 (喜樂) — joy and pleasure

희비 (喜悲) — joy and sorrow

애희 (哀喜) — grief and joy

㐂 is an alternative form, also read as ‘희’ or ‘칠,’ serving as an older variant of 喜.