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知足常樂

简知足常乐 · 繁知足常樂

Mandarin · pinyin zhī zú cháng lè

satisfied with what one has (idiom)

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Characters in this entry

知: zhī · know, perceive, comprehend
足: zú · foot; attain, satisfy, enough; Kangxi radical 156
常: cháng · common, normal, frequent, regular
樂: lè · happy, glad; enjoyable; music
乐: lè · happy, glad; enjoyable; music

Written characters and their own readings; the entry’s pronunciation is shown above.

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Mandarin tones

1–2–2–4 · zhi1 zu2 chang2 le4

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Read this spelling in Classical texts

Follow a written form into the eight pinned witnesses: Analects, Mencius, Laozi, Zhuangzi, Xunzi, Han Feizi, Sunzi and the Mao Shijing. A match is a place to investigate; it does not prove that a modern dictionary sense fits the passage.

知足常樂 · find source passages ↗ · 知足常乐 · find source passages ↗

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Compare dictionary sources Wiktionary · 1 sense · 1 Cantonese reading

Rime Cantonese 粵拼

zi1 zuk1 soeng4 lok6

Cantonese word readings for 知足常樂. This lexicon supplies readings, not definitions.

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Wiktionary English definitions · Chinese section

Independent source senses for this spelling, with usage labels retained. Not matched to the pronunciation above.

phrase

(idiomatic) one who is contented is always happy; to be content with one's lot and be cheerful in life; a contented mind is a perpetual feast

Source page · dump 2026-09-02 · Contributors & history

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