# 乐不可支

lè bù kě zhī

Be unable to contain one's joy

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** So happy one cannot hold oneself steady

**Traditional Chinese:** 樂不可支

**Register:** Positive · general

[People & connection](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/topics/relationships)

## When to use it

Describe delight shown through laughter or excited behavior.

Stronger than ordinary satisfaction; usually a lively visible reaction.

## Understanding the expression

Joy is pictured as overflowing the person's ability to contain it. The expression suits a delightful surprise, amusing discovery, or warmly anticipated success. It often appears alongside laughter or other visible reactions, though it does not literally require losing one's balance. The feeling is energetic rather than quiet contentment. A small everyday incident can qualify when the sentence makes clear how unusually happy it makes the person.

## Examples

看到小狗穿错了鞋，孩子们乐不可支。

### Traditional Chinese

看到小狗穿錯了鞋，孩子們樂不可支。

kàn dào xiǎo gǒu chuān cuò le xié ， hái zi men lè bù kě zhī 。

The children were beside themselves with amusement at the puppy's mismatched shoes.

听说孙女要回来，奶奶乐不可支。

### Traditional Chinese

聽說孫女要回來，奶奶樂不可支。

tīng shuō sūn nǚ yào huí lái ， nǎi nai lè bù kě zhī 。

Grandma was overjoyed to hear that her granddaughter was coming home.

他抽中了旅行大奖，乐不可支。

### Traditional Chinese

他抽中了旅行大獎，樂不可支。

tā chōu zhōng le lǚ xíng dà jiǎng ， lè bù kě zhī 。

He won the grand travel prize and could not contain his joy.

老友突然出现在生日会上，她乐不可支。

### Traditional Chinese

老友突然出現在生日會上，她樂不可支。

lǎo yǒu tū rán chū xiàn zài shēng rì huì shàng ， tā lè bù kě zhī 。

She was overjoyed when an old friend unexpectedly appeared at her birthday party.

## 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%A8%82%E4%B8%8D%E5%8F%AF%E6%94%AF)

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=370&webMd=1&la=0)

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