For example if someone gets a bonus or new car or maybe a good relationship ... and you a truly happy for them. Not Envy, but truly happy that are happy and good things are happening to them. Does English have a single word for this? My wife's Chinese English dictionary translated it in to "Envy" which is not the correct word at all. Any ideas? Thanks in advance!
The word Congratulations conveys that meaning, and can be used in almost any situation, including the ones you mention, to convey sincere happiness for another person's reward, achievement, blessings, or good fortune. Of course, it can also be used ironically or insincerely, but those who do so lack both backbone and imagination.
The closest equivalent in Chinese, in my very limited experience, is gong1 xi3 æå–œ.
Not exactly what I had in mind. I'm looking for the word describing how I am feeling and not what I am wishing someone. Congratulations is an expression of prase or good wishes. Glenn said:
The word Congratulations conveys that meaning, and can be used in almost any situation, including the ones you mention, to convey sincere happiness for another person's reward, achievement, blessings, or good fortune. Of course, it can also be used ironically or insincerely, but those who do so lack both backbone and imagination.
The closest equivalent in Chinese, in my very limited experience, is gong1 xi3 æå–œ.
I'm looking for the word describing how I am feeling and not what I am wishing someone. Congratulations is an expression of prase or good wishes.
If congratulate and congratulations don't appeal to you, I will look for another word. Is it that congratulate doesn't work for you because you are looking for a word to describe such feelings even when they are unexpressed?
Otherwise, perhaps we are looking at different reference materials. In my experience, and in my reference materials, the words congratulate and congratulations are not wishing someone anything. Rather it is expressing the reaction and feelings of the speaker. It is unlike "best wishes" or "good luck" or "all the best" in that regard. Instead, it simply states exactly that right now I am rejoicing with you in your circumstance.
While it is dangerous to argue the meaning from the roots, congratulate comes from the Latin with a meaning of "rejoice together."
Aside from the etymology, the reference materials clearly indicate a focus on the current feelings of the speaker, rather than on future events (emphasis mine):
American Heritage
To express joy or acknowledgment, as for the achievement or good fortune of (another).
ETYMOLOGY:
Latin congrtulr, congrtult- : com-, com- + grtulr, to rejoice (from grtus, pleasing; see gwer-2 in Indo-European roots)Cambridge
to praise someone and say that you approve of or are pleased about a special or unusual achievement
However, key to these words is the idea of expressing the feelings. If you need to describe the feelings apart from the expression of them, then I will have to give it more consideration.
Yes ...thank you so much for the hard word you have put in. However I am looking for the word to describe the feeling apart from the expression of said feelings. Congratulation(s) would be acceptable if I was looking to express the feelings which I am not.