Happiness2 (Happiness2): A New English Interpretation of the Chinese Character 「囍」 《「囍」字之中國文化與新英文詮釋研究》

Lawrence K. Wang王抗曝 (2026) Happiness2 (Happiness2): A New English Interpretation of the Chinese Character 「囍」; 《「囍」字之中國文化與新英文詮釋研究》Global Humanities and Liberal Arts, Lenox Institute Press, Auburndale, Massachusetts, USA. Volume 2026, Issue 6B, 2026(6B), pp. 28. ABSTRACT: The Chinese character 「囍」 (Double Happiness) is one of the most recognizable symbols of traditional Chinese culture, especially associated with marriage, family unity, celebration, and folk art. Beyond its literal meaning, 「囍」 embodies the Chinese philosophy of harmony, symmetry, collective joy, and familial blessing. This article first examines the historical origins, linguistic structure, and cultural significance of 「囍」 in Chinese civilization and among overseas Chinese communities. It then discusses the limitations of the conventional English translation "Double Happiness" and proposes a new cross-cultural English interpretation: "Happiness2" or "Happiness2". The article argues that the creation of a new cultural word may help introduce deeper dimensions of Chinese philosophy and aesthetics into global English discourse. 摘要: 「囍」是中國文化中最具代表性的吉祥文字之一,廣泛應用於婚姻、家庭、節慶與民俗藝術。它不僅象徵雙重喜悅,更體現中國文化中的和合哲學、對稱美學與家庭倫理。本文首先探討「囍」字之歷史來源、文字結構與文化功能,並分析其在中國婚禮文化及海外華人社會中的重要地位。其次,本文討論目前英文翻譯 "Double Happiness" 之限制,並提出一個新的文化性英文詞 "Happiness2" or "Happiness2",作為「囍」字之跨文化新詮釋。本文認為,新詞之建立有助於中國文化在國際社會中的傳播與理解,並可成為東西文化交流中的新語言象徵。