Chinese Idiom: 大喜过望 (Da Xi Guo Wang)
English Translation: Far Exceeding Expectations
pīn yīn: dà xǐ guò wàng
Idiom Meaning: This idiom describes a situation where the outcome is significantly better than originally anticipated, resulting in great happiness and joy.
Historical Source: Records of the Grand Historian
Idiom Story:
During the late Qin Dynasty, the government was corrupt and tyrannical, leading to widespread suffering among the people. After Chen Sheng and Wu Guang’s uprising, many regions began to rise up against the Qin Dynasty. One of these leaders was Qíng Bù (also known as Ying Bu), who gathered thousands of followers and won many victories, gradually becoming quite powerful.
Following the fall of the Qin Dynasty, Xiang Yu appointed Qíng Bù as the King of Jiujiang. However, tensions soon arose between Qíng Bù and Xiang Yu. Liu Bang, the future Emperor of Han, seized the opportunity to persuade Qíng Bù to join his side and fight against Xiang Yu. Despite initially agreeing, Qíng Bù’s forces were eventually defeated by Xiang Yu’s army, forcing him to seek refuge with Liu Bang.
Upon meeting Liu Bang, Qíng Bù was initially met with indifference, which made him even more frustrated and regretful about his earlier decision to oppose Liu Bang. He was so angry that he contemplated suicide.
However, upon arriving at his assigned quarters, Qíng Bù was astonished to find that his living conditions were identical to those of Liu Bang himself, far exceeding his expectations. This lavish treatment greatly pleased him and changed his perspective. Determined to align himself with Liu Bang, he quickly gathered his remaining troops and pledged his loyalty. Qíng Bù then fought valiantly for Liu Bang, earning many accolades and victories.
This story led to the idiom “大喜过望,” which captures the sense of joy that comes from an outcome significantly better than expected.
