proud; pleased with oneself
HSK level
得意 is written with 24 strokes (得: 11, 意: 13). The animation replays automatically.
得意 (déyì) is an adjective describing the feeling of being pleased or proud with oneself after a success — self-satisfied, triumphant, or smug.
Literally 'to get one's wish (意),' it captures the glow of things going your way: 他考了第一，很得意 ('He came first and was very pleased with himself'). English speakers should note it carries a mild negative tinge when overdone: 得意 can shade into 'smug' or 'cocky,' especially in the set phrase 得意忘形 (déyì-wàngxíng, 'so pleased you lose all restraint'). Unlike English 'proud,' which can mean dignified self-respect (骄傲 covers that positive pride and also arrogance), 得意 specifically points to the pleased-with-yourself reaction to a particular win or good outcome.
It is neutral in register. There is also a warm idiom 得意门生 ('a favorite / star student'), where 得意 means 'most treasured.'
Character by character
Memory hook: 得 (get) + 意 (what you wished for) → got what you wanted, so you're pleased with yourself.
他赢了比赛，脸上露出得意的笑容。
Tā yíng le bǐsài, liǎn shàng lùchū déyì de xiàoróng.
He won the match and wore a triumphant smile.
neutral
别太得意，还有下一场呢。
Bié tài déyì, hái yǒu xià yì chǎng ne.
Don't get too pleased with yourself — there's another round.
spoken
取得一点成绩就得意忘形是不好的。
Qǔdé yìdiǎn chéngjì jiù déyì-wàngxíng shì bù hǎo de.
Getting carried away over a small success is not good.
written
她是老师最得意的学生。
Tā shì lǎoshī zuì déyì de xuésheng.
She is the teacher's favorite student.
neutral
骄傲 means both 'proud (of something/someone)' and 'arrogant.' 得意 specifically means pleased-with-yourself over a success and leans toward smugness. You're 为孩子骄傲 (proud of your child) but 得意 about your own win.
自豪 is a purely positive, dignified pride (为祖国自豪, 'proud of one's country'). 得意 can sound smug and self-congratulatory; 自豪 never does.
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