恭候 (gōng hòu) — to wait respectfully (formal, used for guests or in invitations)

Definition

恭候 is a very formal, written verb meaning 'to await (someone) respectfully' — used on invitations, signs, and announcements to honor the person arriving. Far more ceremonial than everyday 等.

verb
to wait respectfully (formal, used for guests or in invitations)

Examples

  • 恭候。
    Wǒ men yǐ zài mén kǒu gōng hòu nín de guāng lín.
    We are already at the door respectfully awaiting your arrival.
  • ，恭候。
    Yàn huì yǐ jīng kāi shǐ, zhǔ rén zhèng zài dà tīng gōng hòu gè wèi lái bīn.
    The banquet has begun, and the host is waiting respectfully in the hall for all the guests.
  • ，恭候。
    Qǐng nín shāo děng, jīng lǐ mǎ shàng jiù lái gōng hòu nín.
    Please wait a moment; the manager will come to respectfully await you.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

恭gōngrespectful
候hòuwait

The respectful sense of 恭 shapes the waiting in 候.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
心心xīnheart
Sound part声符shēngfú
共
共gòng恭gōng
Same sound today

恭 has 心, meaning heart, and 共, read gòng.

Open 恭 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
亻Written in full as人rén
Sound part声符shēngfú
矦
矦hóu候hòu
Same sound today

候 combines 亻, relating to people, with 矦, which gives the sound.

Open 候 →
Appears in
Greetings & Politeness

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