欢呼 is a compound verb meaning 'to cheer' or 'to applaud'—typically expressing collective, enthusiastic approval or celebration. The first character 欢 (huān) means 'joy' or 'delight', and the second 呼 (hū) means 'to shout' or 'to call out'; together, they convey the idea of shouting joyfully, often in unison. It’s commonly used in public, dynamic contexts: sports events, political rallies, award ceremonies, or spontaneous moments of triumph.

This word emphasizes vocal, outward expression of positive emotion—not silent appreciation or individual clapping. While it can be used transitively (e.g., 欢呼胜利), it more frequently appears intransitively or with a noun phrase indicating the cause (e.g., 欢呼雀跃, 欢呼庆祝). It carries a formal, energetic, and socially engaged tone—rarely used for quiet or private joy. The verb is often paired with other action words to intensify enthusiasm, such as 齐声欢呼 ('cheer in unison') or 热烈欢呼 ('enthusiastically cheer').