# 春风得意

chūn fēng dé yì

Enjoy success with obvious delight

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** Feel pleased in the spring breeze

**Traditional Chinese:** 春風得意

**Register:** Positive · general

[Change & possibility](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/topics/change)

## When to use it

Describe someone flourishing after promotion or achievement.

Can hint at smugness; happiness alone need not imply arrogance.

## Understanding the expression

A spring breeze supplies a comfortable, buoyant atmosphere for a person enjoying success. The expression commonly describes the visible confidence that follows a promotion, exam result, or professional breakthrough. It is more specific than simply feeling cheerful on a pleasant day. Depending on tone, the speaker may admire the person's good fortune or gently question their self-satisfaction. The sentence should identify the success that has lifted their spirits.

## Examples

升职后，他春风得意，天天笑着上班。

### Traditional Chinese

升職後，他春風得意，天天笑著上班。

shēng zhí hòu ， tā chūn fēng dé yì ， tiān tiān xiào zhe shàng bān 。

After his promotion, he goes to work smiling and full of satisfaction.

她刚拿到奖学金，正春风得意。

### Traditional Chinese

她剛拿到獎學金，正春風得意。

tā gāng ná dào jiǎng xué jīn ， zhèng chūn fēng dé yì 。

She has just won a scholarship and is enjoying her success.

生意顺利的时候，他一度春风得意。

### Traditional Chinese

生意順利的時候，他一度春風得意。

shēng yì shùn lì de shí hòu ， tā yí dù chūn fēng dé yì 。

When business went well, he enjoyed a period of success.

别在春风得意时忘了帮助过你的人。

### Traditional Chinese

別在春風得意時忘了幫助過你的人。

bié zài chūn fēng dé yì shí wàng le bāng zhù guò nǐ de rén 。

Do not forget those who helped you while you are enjoying success.

## Sources & reference checks

Original explanations and examples from Chinese Idioms Almanac. Source-checked October 6, 2026.

- [CC-CEDICT · forms & pronunciation](https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?page=worddict&wdqb=%E6%98%A5%E9%A2%A8%E5%BE%97%E6%84%8F)

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=408&webMd=1&la=0)

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