皆大歡喜

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Chinese

all; each and every; in all cases
big; great; huge
big; great; huge; large; major; wide; deep; oldest; eldest; doctor
 
joyful; happy; delighted
trad. (皆大歡喜) 歡喜
simp. (皆大欢喜) 欢喜

Etymology

Originally a cliché in the endings of many Buddhist sutras. First attested in Chinese in 402 CE, in 金刚經 (Diamond Sutra), translated by Kumarajiva.

[…] 一切世間阿修羅皆大歡喜奉行 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
[…] 一切世间阿修罗皆大欢喜奉行 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Diamond Sutra, translated by Kumārajīva circa 5th century CE
Fó shuō shì jīng yǐ […] yīqiè shìjiān tiān, rén, āxiūluó, wén fó suǒ shuō, jiē dàhuānxǐ, xìnshòu fèngxíng.
When the Buddha had finished expounding this sutra all the worlds of devas, men and asuras who had listened to His teaching, were filled with joy and believed, received and observed it.

Alternatively, from妙法蓮華經 (Lotus Sutra), Kumarajiva's translated version.

普賢菩薩舍利弗諸天非人一切大會皆大歡喜佛語 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
普贤菩萨舍利弗诸天非人一切大会皆大欢喜佛语 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Lotus Sūtra, translated by Kumārajīva circa 5th century CE
Fó shuō shì jīng shí, pǔxián děng, zhū púsà, shèlìfú děng, zhū shēngwén, jí zhūtiān, lóng, rén, fēirén děng, yīqiè dàhuì, jiē dàhuānxǐ, shòuchí fóyǔ, zuò lǐ ér qù.
When the Buddha preached this sutra, Universal Worthy and the other bodhisattvas, Shariputra and the other voice-hearers, and the heavenly beings and dragons, the human and nonhuman beings—the entire membership of the great assembly were all filled with great joy. Accepting and upholding the words of the Buddha, they bowed in obeisance and departed.

Pronunciation



Rime
Character
Reading # 1/1 2/2 1/1 1/1
Initial () (28) (7) (32) (32)
Final () (33) (94) (62) (19)
Tone (調) Level (Ø) Departing (H) Level (Ø) Rising (X)
Openness (開合) Open Open Closed Open
Division () II I I III
Fanqie
Baxter keaj daH xwan xiX
Reconstructions
Zhengzhang
Shangfang
/kˠɛi/ /dɑH/ /huɑn/ /hɨX/
Pan
Wuyun
/kᵚæi/ /dɑH/ /hʷɑn/ /hɨX/
Shao
Rongfen
/kɐi/ /dɑH/ /xuɑn/ /xieX/
Edwin
Pulleyblank
/kəɨj/ /daH/ /hwan/ /hɨX/
Li
Rong
/kɛi/ /dɑH/ /xuɑn/ /xiəX/
Wang
Li
/kɐi/ /dɑH/ /xuɑn/ /xĭəX/
Bernhard
Karlgren
/kăi/ /dʱɑH/ /xuɑn/ /xiX/
Expected
Mandarin
Reflex
jiē duò huān
Expected
Cantonese
Reflex
gaai1 do6 fun1 hei2

Idiom

皆大歡喜

  1. to everyone's delight and satisfaction; everyone is happy