take pleasure in, rejoice
欣 centers on a joyful emotional response: taking pleasure in something or rejoicing. It expresses a sense of gladness or delight.
欣 combines 斤 (axe) and 欠 (open mouth, often associated with emotion or breath). The exact historical development is uncertain, but the combination likely expressed a joyful or emotional response.
Picture an axe (斤) and a person with an open mouth (欠) in a cheerful expression. The axe might represent a tool that brings satisfaction, and the open mouth shows joy—together they mean taking pleasure or rejoicing.
For キン, imagine a king (キン) rejoicing after a victory: the king's joy cues キン, and the kanji shows his open-mouthed delight.
joyful; delighted; cheerful; happy
pleasure
jump up for joy
pleasant; delightful
joy; gladness
thinking happily of
joy and glory; joyous glory; pleasure
earnest aspiration (to go to paradise)
seeking rebirth in the Pure Land
joyful; cheerful
being very jealous; extreme jealousy