grief and pleasure; sorrow and joy
A somewhat literary or formal compound referring to the two contrasting emotions of sadness and happiness, often used in philosophical or reflective contexts.
Life is full of sorrow and joy.
彼の表情からは哀楽が読み取れなかった。
I couldn't read grief or pleasure from his expression.
human emotions; joy, anger, sorrow, and pleasure
Compound of 哀 (sorrow, grief) and 楽 (pleasure, comfort). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but it follows a common Sino-Japanese pattern of pairing contrasting concepts.