祝寿 (zhù shòu) — to offer birthday congratulations (to an elderly person)

Definition

祝寿 (zhùshòu) is a formal, often ceremonial verb for honoring an elderly person's birthday — stronger and more ritual than the everyday 生日祝福, and typically used for elders (grandparents, centenarians).

verb
to offer birthday congratulations (to an elderly person)

Examples

  • ，祝寿。
    Měi nián chūn jié hòu, wǒ men dōu huì gěi nǎi nai zhù shòu.
    Every year after Spring Festival, we offer birthday congratulations to Grandma.
  • ，。
    Zuó tiān gěi yé ye zhù le gè shòu, quán jiā dōu hěn kāi xīn.
    Yesterday we offered birthday wishes to Grandpa, and the whole family was very happy.
  • 祝寿。
    Cūn lǐ wèi bǎi suì lǎo rén jǔ xíng le yì chǎng lóng zhòng de zhù shòu yí shì.
    The village held a grand birthday ceremony for the centenarian.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

祝zhùcongratulate
寿shòulongevity

“祝” (congratulate) + “寿” (longevity) offers birthday wishes to an elder.

Characters in this word

An abstract idea shown by a mark or a diagram rather than by a picture of an object.

祝 shows a kneeling person with an open mouth beside an altar.

Open 祝 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 壽; 寿 is its simplified writing.

  • 耂耂lǎoold
  • 𢏚𢏚𢏚

The traditional form 壽 uses 耂 for old and a sound part 𢏚, plus added decorative marks; the simplified 寿 is a later shorthand.

Open 寿 →

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.