【Difference】うれしい (ureshii) vs たのしい (tanoshii)

When you receive a present, are you うれしい (ureshii) or たのしい (tanoshii)? When you play a game, is it うれしい or たのしい?

Both words express positive feelings, but they are used in different situations. Many Japanese learners mix them up because “happy” in English can sometimes mean both.

うれしい (Ureshii) is “Happy/Glad” (A reaction).
たのしい (Tanoshii) is “Fun/Enjoyable” (An activity).

This article will explain the simple difference so you can express your feelings correctly!

Usage Explanation ①: うれしい (ureshii) – “Happy” / “Glad”

うれしい (ureshii) is an i-adjective. It describes an instant feeling of joy when something good happens to you.

It is a reaction. You feel this when you receive something, achieve a goal, or hear good news.

Example 1: (Receiving a gift)

プレゼントをもらって、うれしいです。(Purezento o moratte, ureshii desu.)

I am happy/glad to receive a present.

Example 2: (Meeting someone)

あなたに会（あ）えて、うれしいです。(Anata ni aete, ureshii desu.)

I am happy to meet you.

Example 3: (Hearing news)

テストに合格（ごうかく）して、うれしい！(Tesuto ni gōkaku shite, ureshii!)

I passed the test, I’m so happy!

Key Point: うれしい is about your internal feeling. It focuses on the result or event.

Usage Explanation ②: たのしい (tanoshii) – “Fun” / “Enjoyable”

たのしい (tanoshii) is also an i-adjective. It describes an activity or time that you enjoy.

It focuses on the process of doing something. You use it for parties, hobbies, travel, or chatting.

Example 1: (An activity)

サッカーをするのは、たのしいです。(Sakkā o suru no wa, tanoshii desu.)

Playing soccer is fun.

Example 2: (An event)

パーティーは、とてもたのしかったです。(Pātī wa, totemo tanoshikatta desu.)

The party was very fun.

Example 3: (Time)

たのしい 時間（じかん）を過（す）ごしました。(Tanoshii jikan o sugoshimashita.)

I spent an enjoyable time.

Key Point: たのしい is about the atmosphere or activity. You “enjoy” it.

Comparison: うれしい vs たのしい

Let’s compare the nuance.

Feature	うれしい (ureshii)	たのしい (tanoshii)
Meaning	Happy, Glad, Delighted	Fun, Enjoyable, Entertaining
Focus	Result / Event (Reaction)	Process / Activity (Action)
Duration	Often short-term (Instant joy)	Duration of the activity
Typical Situation	Getting a gift, passing a test, meeting a friend	Playing sports, watching movies, parties, travel
Example	プレゼントがうれしい。 (I am happy about the gift.)	ゲームがたのしい。 (The game is fun.)

Common Mistake Examples

Mistake 1: Talking about a movie

Wrong:: この映画（えいが）は、うれしいです。(Kono eiga wa, ureshii desu.)
Correct:: この映画（えいが）は、たのしいです。(Kono eiga wa, tanoshii desu.)
Why?: A movie is an activity you watch. It is entertaining, so it is たのしい (fun). Unless the movie gave you a gift, you don’t usually say “The movie is happy.”

Mistake 2: Meeting a friend

A little strange:: 会（あ）えて、たのしいです。(Aete, tanoshii desu.)
Natural:: 会（あ）えて、うれしいです。(Aete, ureshii desu.)
Why?: “To be able to meet” is an event/result. You feel glad about this fact, so うれしい is natural. After you talk and play together, *then* you can say “It was fun” (たのしかった).

Practice Quiz

Let’s check your understanding! Choose the correct word for ( ).

Q1.

彼（かれ）から手紙（てがみ）が来（き）て、( )。

A letter came from him, and I am ( ).

たのしい (tanoshii)
うれしい (ureshii)

Q2.

週末（しゅうまつ）の旅行（りょこう）は、とても ( ) です。

The trip last weekend was very ( ).

たのしかった (tanoshikatta)
うれしかった (ureshikatta)

Q3.

日本語（にほんご）を勉強（べんきょう）するのは ( ) です。

Studying Japanese is ( ).

たのしい (tanoshii)
うれしい (ureshii)

Quiz Answers

Q1. (b) うれしい – Receiving a letter is a happy event/result.

Q2. (a) たのしかった – A trip is an activity you enjoy doing.

Q3. (a) たのしい – Studying is a process/activity. You find it enjoyable.

Summary: Key Differences

Remember the feeling:

うれしい (ureshii): “Happy!” (Emotion/Reaction). Use it when something good happens to you.
たのしい (tanoshii): “Fun!” (Activity/Atmosphere). Use it when you do something enjoyable.

If you can replace the word with “Fun,” use たのしい. If you can replace it with “Glad,” use うれしい!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Can I use both words for a party?: A1: Yes, but the meaning changes. 「パーティーはたのしい」(The party is fun) describes the activity. 「パーティーに行けて、うれしい」(I am happy I can go to the party) describes your feeling about the opportunity.
Q2: What is the difference between 幸せ (shiawase) and うれしい (ureshii)?: A2: うれしい (ureshii) is a temporary feeling of joy (e.g., getting a gift). 幸せ (shiawase) is a long-lasting, deep feeling of happiness (e.g., a happy life, a happy marriage).
Q3: Which adjective is used for “Good to meet you”?: A3: You use うれしい. For example, 「お会いできて、うれしいです」 (O-ai dekite, ureshii desu – I am happy to meet you). It is a reaction to the event of meeting.