1. What is 'On cloud nine'?
'On cloud nine' is often used to express a state of extreme happiness and excitement. This idiom is frequently used to convey positive emotions when you achieve a significant success or experience something exceptionally good in life. It originates from the association that the ninth cloud layer is one of the highest points, far above in the sky, which one can reach, and from there, it has become a symbol of happiness and exhilaration.
Example 1:
- A: I just found out I got the job I’ve been dreaming of! Tôi vừa biết được rằng tôi đã được nhận công việc mà tôi đã mơ ước!
- B: That’s amazing! You must be on cloud nine right now. Thật tuyệt vời! Bạn chắc chắn đang trên mây thứ chín lúc này.
Example 2:
- A: We won the championship game! Chúng tôi đã giành chiến thắng trong trận chung kết!
- B: Wow, that’s fantastic! You guys must be on cloud nine! Ồ, điều đó thật tuyệt vời! Các bạn chắc chắn đang hạnh phúc lắm!
Example 3:
- A: I proposed to her, and she said yes! Tôi đã cầu hôn cô ấy và cô ấy đã đồng ý!
- B: Congratulations! You must be on cloud nine right now. Chúc mừng! Bạn chắc chắn đang rất hạnh phúc lúc này.
Example 4:
- A: I aced my final exams! Tôi đã làm xuất sắc trong kỳ thi cuối kỳ!
- B: That’s fantastic! You must be on cloud nine with those results. Thật tuyệt vời! Bạn chắc chắn đang ở trạng thái hạnh phúc lắm với kết quả đó.
Example 5:
- A: We just had a baby boy! Chúng tôi vừa có một đứa con trai!
- B: Oh, congratulations! You must be on cloud nine as new parents. Ồ, chúc mừng! Các bạn chắc chắn đang rất hạnh phúc khi làm cha mẹ.
2. Origins of the idiom 'On cloud nine'
There are several hypotheses about the origin of 'On cloud nine'. One commonly cited hypothesis is that it originated from the classification of clouds defined by the US Weather Bureau in the 1950s, where the ninth type of cloud was defined as a very smooth cloud, considered the most beautiful among all types of clouds.
Another hypothesis relates to Buddhism, where the ninth cloud layer symbolizes one of the stages in the process of becoming a Bodhisattva (enlightenment of a Bodhisattva).
However, it is important to note that both hypotheses have drawbacks. Firstly, both the cloud classification and the stages of Buddhist practice have ten levels instead of nine, which makes the number nine not always the sole inspiration for this idiom. It seems that it is the clouds themselves rather than their number that inspired the creators of this idiom. In conclusion, the origin of the idiom 'On cloud nine' still remains unclear.
3. Usage of the Idiom 'On cloud nine'
3.1. Expressing happiness, excitement
When you want to say that you are feeling very happy or excited about something.
Eg: She was over the moon after receiving the surprise gift from her husband. Cô ấy rất hạnh phúc sau khi nhận được món quà bất ngờ từ chồng mình.
3.2. Diễn tả cảm xúc hạnh phúc sau một thành công hoặc kết quả tốt
Mô tả cảm xúc sau khi bạn đã đạt được một mục tiêu hoặc thành công trong một dự án.
Eg: Upon hearing that she had won the scholarship, she was on cloud nine. Khi cô nghe tin cô đã giành được học bổng, cô ấy rất hạnh phúc.
3.3. Miêu tả trạng thái hạnh phúc của ai đó
Describing someone's extremely happy state of mind.
Eg: He’s been on cloud nine ever since he started his new job. Anh ấy đã rất hạnh phúc kể từ khi anh ấy bắt đầu công việc mới.
3.4. Describing the happiness of newlyweds
Expressing the happy state of a newly married couple.
Eg: The newlyweds appeared very happy during their honeymoon. Cặp đôi mới cưới dường như đang rất hạnh phúc trong kỳ nghỉ tân hôn của họ.
3.5. Describing happiness and excitement after a special experience
Describing someone's emotions after experiencing something special or interesting.
Eg: After their team won the championship, the fans were overjoyed. Sau khi đội của họ giành chức vô địch, các CĐV đang rất hạnh phúc và phấn khích.
4. Conversation with On cloud nine
- A: Have you heard the news about Sarah? Bạn có nghe tin tức về Sarah không?
- B: No, what happened? Không, có chuyện gì vậy?
- A: She just got promoted to the position of manager! She’s on cloud nine right now. Cô ấy vừa được thăng chức lên vị trí quản lý! Cô ấy đang rất hạnh phúc lúc này.
- B: That’s fantastic news! She’s worked so hard for it. Đó là tin tuyệt vời! Cô ấy đã làm việc chăm chỉ để đạt được điều đó.
- A: Yes, she absolutely deserved it, and the entire team is thrilled for her. Vâng, cô ấy hoàn toàn xứng đáng, và toàn bộ đội làm việc đều rất phấn khích cho cô ấy.
- B: I can imagine. I bet she feels like she’s on top of the world. Tôi có thể tưởng tượng. Tôi đoán cô ấy cảm thấy như mình đang ở đỉnh của thế giới.
5. Synonyms and phrases for the idiom On cloud nine
Dưới đây là các từ/cụm từ đồng nghĩa với On cloud nine:
Từ đồng nghĩa | Ý nghĩa | Ví dụ |
Carried away | Rất phấn khích, mất kiểm soát | He got carried away with his speech and spoke for hours. |
Ecstatic | Rất phấn khích, sung sướng | She was ecstatic when she received the good news. |
Entranced | Đắm chìm, mê mải | The music had him entranced, and he couldn’t look away. |
Euphoric | Rất phấn khích, hạnh phúc tột đỉnh | After their team’s victory, the fans were euphoric. |
In seventh heaven | Rất hạnh phúc, sung sướng, đỉnh điểm hạnh phúc | She felt like she was in seventh heaven on her wedding day. |
Overjoyed | Rất phấn khích, hạnh phúc | They were overjoyed to hear the news of their promotion. |
Transported | Mê mải, đắm chìm | The beauty of the sunset left her transported with delight. |
6. Words and phrases antonymous to the idiom On cloud nine
Dưới đây là các từ/cụm từ trái nghĩa với On cloud nine:
Từ trái nghĩa | Ý nghĩa | Ví dụ |
Depressed | Buồn bã, trầm cảm | She felt depressed after losing her job. |
Blue | Buồn bã, u ám | He’s been feeling blue since his breakup. |
Low | Thấp, tinh thần buồn | His self-esteem is low after the criticism. |
Sorry | Lấy làm tiếc, hối hận | I’m sorry to hear about your loss. |
Sad | Buồn bã, đau khổ | The news of the accident made her sad. |
Unhappy | Không hạnh phúc, buồn rầu | He’s been unhappy in his current job. |
Melancholy | Buồn bã, u ám | The gloomy weather put her in a melancholy mood. |
Miserable | Đau khổ, khốn khổ | Living in poverty made their life miserable. |
Gloomy | Buồn bã, u ám | The gloomy atmosphere of the room was palpable. |
Disconsolate | Buồn bã, không thể an ủi | She was disconsolate after the loss of her pet. |
Wretched | Khốn khổ, đau khổ | The wretched conditions of the refugees were heart-wrenching. |
Sorrowful | Buồn bã, đau khổ | He wore a sorrowful expression at the funeral. |
Mournful | Buồn bã, than khóc | The mournful wails echoed through the night. |
Down | Buồn bã, tinh thần thấp | His bad news left her feeling down. |
Inconsolable | Không thể an ủi, không thể làm vui | She was inconsolable after the loss of her loved one. |
Downcast | Buồn bã, nản lòng | He walked away with a downcast expression. |
Heartbroken | Tận lực, tan nát | She was heartbroken when her relationship ended. |
Disheartened | Mất tinh thần, nản lòng | The repeated failures disheartened him. |
Forlorn | Lạc lối, bị bỏ rơi | The forlorn puppy was left alone on the street. |
Doleful | Buồn bã, đau khổ | The doleful music matched the somber mood of the occasion. |
Woeful | Khốn khổ, đáng thương | The conditions in the refugee camp were woeful. |
Dejected | Buồn bã, nản lòng | He looked dejected after the team’s defeat. |
Saddened | Buồn bã, đau khổ | The news of the accident saddened everyone. |
Glum | Buồn bã, buồn tủi | He wore a glum expression throughout the day. |
Brokenhearted | Tan nát, đau lòng | She was left brokenhearted by the betrayal. |
Crestfallen | Tan nát, thất vọng | They looked crestfallen after the loss. |
Despondent | Buồn bã, nản lòng | He became despondent after a series of failures. |
Downhearted | Buồn bã, đau lòng | She felt downhearted after the argument. |
Woebegone | Buồn bã, u ám | The woebegone look on her face was hard to miss. |
Heartsick | Đau lòng, buồn bã | The news of the tragedy left everyone heartsick. |
Joyless | Không vui, thiếu niềm vui | Their joyless marriage eventually led to a divorce. |
Heartsore | Đau lòng, đau khổ | She was left heartsore after the loss of her friend. |
Hangdog | Buồn bã, nhẹ cổ, bi quan | His hangdog expression suggested he was in trouble. |
Low-spirited | Tinh thần thấp, buồn rầu | He’s been feeling low-spirited recently. |