# 笑逐颜开

xiào zhú yán kāi

Beam with happiness

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** A smile follows and the face opens

**Traditional Chinese:** 笑逐顏開

**Register:** General · spoken & written

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

## When to use it

Describe an openly happy facial expression.

It reports visible delight rather than every feeling a person has.

## The image & its use

A person can look quite different when a welcome surprise brings a smile. This expression describes that open change of expression, with happiness visible across the face. It suits an ordinary scene such as seeing a friend, receiving a thoughtful message, or finishing a satisfying project. The phrase often accompanies the cause of the delight. A concrete reason makes the description warmer and clearer than simply assigning a happy expression to a person without showing what prompted it.

## Examples

收到朋友的来信，她笑逐颜开。

### Traditional Chinese

收到朋友的來信，她笑逐顏開。

shōu dào péng yǒu de lái xìn ， tā xiào zhú yán kāi 。

She beamed on receiving her friend's letter.

看到新种的花开放，爷爷笑逐颜开。

### Traditional Chinese

看到新種的花開放，爺爺笑逐顏開。

kàn dào xīn zhǒng de huā kāi fàng ， yé ye xiào zhú yán kāi 。

Grandfather beamed when he saw the newly planted flowers bloom.

孩子们笑逐颜开地展示手工作品。

### Traditional Chinese

孩子們笑逐顏開地展示手工作品。

hái zi men xiào zhú yán kāi dì zhǎn shì shǒu gōng zuò pǐn 。

The children proudly beamed as they displayed their crafts.

听说图书室重新开放，他立刻笑逐颜开。

### Traditional Chinese

聽說圖書室重新開放，他立刻笑逐顏開。

tīng shuō tú shū shì chóng xīn kāi fàng ， tā lì kè xiào zhú yán kāi 。

He immediately beamed on hearing that the library room had reopened.

## Sources & reference checks

Original explanations and examples from Chinese Idioms Almanac. Source-checked October 7, 2026.

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=1401&webMd=1&la=0)

- [CC-CEDICT · forms & pronunciation](https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?page=worddict&wdqb=%E7%AC%91%E9%80%90%E9%A1%8F%E9%96%8B)

## Keep exploring

- [心花怒放 xīn huā nù fàng Feel joy bursting inside ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/xin-hua-nu-fang)

- [信口雌黄 xìn kǒu cí huáng Make irresponsible or unfounded claims ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/xin-kou-ci-huang)

- [信口开河 xìn kǒu kāi hé Speak recklessly without regard for facts ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/xin-kou-kai-he)

- [心平气和 xīn píng qì hé Stay calm and even tempered ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/xin-ping-qi-he)

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