欢乐 (huān lè) is a compound noun meaning 'joy' or 'merriment' — the kind of light, shared happiness that comes from celebration, laughter, or warm companionship. The first character 欢 (huān) means 'to welcome' or 'delight', and often carries connotations of enthusiasm and friendliness; the second character 乐 (lè) means 'happiness' or 'pleasure'. Together, they form a more vivid and socially resonant term than either character alone — emphasizing collective, uplifting emotion rather than private contentment.

This word is commonly used in formal and informal contexts: in speeches ('bring joy to the people'), festive greetings ('a joyful Spring Festival'), or everyday descriptions ('the children’s laughter filled the park with欢乐'). It frequently appears in fixed phrases like 欢乐时光 (huān lè shí guāng, 'happy times') or 欢乐颂 (huān lè sòng, 'Ode to Joy'). While it can describe personal feeling, it most often implies an outward, observable atmosphere of cheerfulness.