不亦乐乎 búyìlèhū literally isn't that a joy?
literally isn't that a joy? (quote from Confucius); figuratively (jocular) extremely; awfully
How to remember 不亦乐乎: 不 not + 亦 as well + 乐 cheerful + 乎 a call = literally isn't that a joy?.
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How it is used
- From the Analects ('isn't it a joy?'); in modern jocular use it means 'to the extreme, like crazy' as a complement - 忙得不亦乐乎 (máng de búyìlèhū) busy as anything.
- Almost always in the pattern verb + 得 + 不亦乐乎 meaning 'to the max'.