Definition

Adjective: - Satisfied; content; gleeful: Expressing or showing obvious, natural joy and satisfaction because one's wishes have been met or a situation is pleasing. It often describes a visible, unrestrained expression of contentment.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Sau khi thắng trận, các cầu thủ đều cười nói hể hả. (After winning the match, the players were all talking and laughing gleefully.)
  • Nghe tin tốt, gương mặt anh ấy hể hả hẳn lên. (Upon hearing the good news, his face lit up with satisfaction.)
  • Bọn trẻ chạy nhảy hể hả trong công viên. (The children were running and jumping around gleefully in the park.)

Advanced Usage

• The word hể hả is often used to describe a state of happiness that is openly displayed and stems from a specific cause of satisfaction. It is more vivid and expressive than a simple "vui" (happy).
• It can be used to modify verbs (like cười, nói - laugh, talk) to describe the manner of the action, or to describe a person's appearance or demeanor.

Variants and Related Words

• Hả hê (adj): A very close synonym, also meaning gleefully satisfied, often used interchangeably with hể hả.
  • Nó làm xong việc, mặt mày hả hê. (He finished the work, looking very pleased.)
• Thỏa mãn (adj/verb): To be satisfied/content (fulfilled). This is a more general term for satisfaction, while hể hả emphasizes the visible expression of it.
• Khoái chí (adj): Pleased, delighted (often with a sense of relish or schadenfreude).

Synonyms

• Vui vẻ: Happy, cheerful.
• Mãn nguyện: Content, fulfilled.
• Tươi cười: Smiling cheerfully.

Related Idioms/Phrases

• Cười hể hả: To laugh heartily and with obvious satisfaction.
  • Nghe chuyện hài, cả nhà cười hể hả. (Listening to the funny story, the whole family laughed heartily.)
• Mặt mày hể hả: To have a face that shows clear contentment.
  • Nhận được quà, nó về nhà với mặt mày hể hả. (Receiving the gift, he went home with a beaming, contented face.)

adj

1. satisfied; content