不亦乐乎
- Literal
- is it not also a joy?
- Figurative
- Originally "isn't it a joy?"; today, after 得, it means "like crazy": 忙得不亦乐乎 is to be run off your feet, said half-jokingly.
Where does 不亦乐乎 come from?
These are the opening words of the Analects of Confucius: "To learn and practice in due time what one has learned, is that not also a pleasure? To have friends come from afar, is that not also a joy?" Outside that quotation, still a stock welcome for friends from afar, the phrase changed its job: today it follows 得 as a complement of degree and means "extremely, flat out," with a humorous ring that comes from the contrast with the solemn original. So 忙得不亦乐乎 is not enjoying your work but being swamped, while 玩得不亦乐乎 is having a great time.
Source (出处): 《论语·学而》
How is 不亦乐乎 used? Two examples
- 周末孩子们在沙滩上堆沙堡，玩得不亦乐乎。
Over the weekend the kids built sandcastles on the beach and had the time of their lives.
- 年底项目一个接一个，整个部门忙得不亦乐乎。
At year-end the projects keep coming one after another, and the whole department is run off its feet.
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