# 乐极生悲

lè jí shēng bēi

Joy taken too far can end in sorrow

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** Extreme joy produces sadness

**Traditional Chinese:** 樂極生悲

**Register:** Cautionary · conversational

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

## When to use it

Use when unchecked excitement or pleasure leads to a bad outcome.

It describes a reversal; avoid using it to blame someone for an unrelated misfortune.

## Behind the words

Traditional writing often pairs opposite extremes. The expression describes happiness turning into sadness when enjoyment loses its limits.

The expression marks a reversal from intense happiness to sadness or misfortune. It often cautions against becoming careless or excessive during celebration. It does not claim that happiness itself is wrong or that every happy event must end badly. Context should show the reversal or the behavior that creates the risk.

## Examples

庆祝时也要注意安全，别乐极生悲。

### Traditional Chinese

慶祝時也要注意安全，別樂極生悲。

qìng zhù shí yě yào zhù yì ān quán ， bié lè jí shēng bēi 。

Remember safety during the celebration so the joy does not end in sorrow.

聚会聊得太开心，忘了保存照片，真是乐极生悲。

### Traditional Chinese

聚會聊得太開心，忘了保存照片，真是樂極生悲。

jù huì liáo dé tài kāi xīn ， wàng le bǎo cún zhào piàn ， zhēn shì lè jí shēng bēi 。

The enjoyable gathering ended in disappointment when they forgot to save the photos.

他为新作品高兴了半天，却发现弄丢了文件，乐极生悲。

### Traditional Chinese

他為新作品高興了半天，卻發現弄丟了文件，樂極生悲。

tā wèi xīn zuò pǐn gāo xìng le bàn tiān ， què fā xiàn nòng diū le wén jiàn ， lè jí shēng bēi 。

His delight in the new work turned to sadness when he realized the file was lost.

大家庆祝时忘了收好模型，结果弄坏了，真是乐极生悲。

### Traditional Chinese

大家慶祝時忘了收好模型，結果弄壞了，真是樂極生悲。

dà jiā qìng zhù shí wàng le shōu hǎo mó xíng ， jié guǒ nòng huài le ， zhēn shì lè jí shēng bēi 。

Their celebration turned to disappointment when a model they forgot to put away was damaged.

## Sources & reference checks

Original explanations and examples from Chinese Idioms Almanac. Source-checked October 4, 2026.

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=924&q=1&webMd=1&la=0)

- [CC-CEDICT · forms & pronunciation](https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?page=worddict&wdqb=%E6%A8%82%E6%A5%B5%E7%94%9F%E6%82%B2)

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