What is the difference between [嬉]{うれ}しい and [幸]{しあわ}せ for "happy" or
"happiness"? Are these interchangeable or are there cases where one should be
used over the other? If so, please give examples where one would be used and
not the other.
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2021-07-08T07:59:04.073
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2021-07-09T03:33:48.373
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question
word-choice words word-usage
Difference in usage between 嬉しい and 幸せ
うれしい:

> If we can win this game, we'll win the championship.
>
> →We won.
>
> → **うれしい！**

幸せ:

> With the prize money we won, we bought new equipment, had a victory party
> with our friends, and did many other fun things.
>
> →There were many happy and good things.
>
> → **幸せ！**

Unnatural/non interchangeable usage:

> うれしい人生. This is wrong usage of うれしい.
>
> 幸せな人生. This is good usage of 幸せ.

Basically, うれしい is for short-term happiness, when compared to 幸せ.
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2021-07-08T08:38:18.693
87395
2021-07-09T02:33:51.037
2021-07-09T02:33:51.037
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answer
Basically 幸せ means happiness. But I have seen this conversation in an American
movie:

> Mother: Is she your girlfriend? _Looking disappointed_
>
> Son: No, are you happy?

This "happy" is 嬉しい in Japanese. So it depends on the context.
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2021-07-08T18:00:47.947
87396
2021-07-09T03:33:48.373
2021-07-09T03:33:48.373
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answer