Difference in usage between 嬉しい and 幸せ


What is the difference between [嬉]{うれ}しい and [幸]{しあわ}せ for "happy" or
"happiness"? Are these interchangeable or are there cases where one should be
used over the other? If so, please give examples where one would be used and
not the other.




うれしい:

> If we can win this game, we'll win the championship.
>
> →We won.
>
> → **うれしい！**

幸せ:

> With the prize money we won, we bought new equipment, had a victory party
> with our friends, and did many other fun things.
>
> →There were many happy and good things.
>
> → **幸せ！**

Unnatural/non interchangeable usage:

> うれしい人生. This is wrong usage of うれしい.
>
> 幸せな人生. This is good usage of 幸せ.

Basically, うれしい is for short-term happiness, when compared to 幸せ.

