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.
人生には哀楽がつきものだ。
Life is full of sorrow and joy.
彼の表情からは哀楽が読み取
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.