贺 (hè) — (bound form) to congratulate
Definition
贺 is a bound, written/formal element meaning 'to congratulate' — it always attaches to another word (贺卡, 贺电, 祝贺) and is rarely used alone. Use 祝贺 for everyday spoken congratulations.
bound form
to congratulate
Easily confused
- 驾jiàlook-aliketo drive, pilot, sail, or ride (a vehicle or animal)
- 赫hèsound-alike(bound form) conspicuous, grand
- 架jiàlook-alike(classifier) for aircraft, large vehicles, and machinery (e.g., radios)
- 鹤hèsound-alikecrane (bird)
- 褐hèsound-alike(biology, geology, etc.) brown (used in compounds such as 褐色, 褐煤, 褐铁矿)
- 壑hèsound-alikeravine, gully; deep pit
Examples
- 。Zhù hè nǐ kǎo shì chéng gōng.Congratulations on your exam success.
- 。Wǒ sòng le tā yì zhāng hè kǎ.I gave her a greeting card.
- 。Tā men fā lái hè diàn biǎo shì zhù hè.They sent a congratulatory telegram to express congratulations.
Origin
Sound + meaning六书liùshū
形声xíngshēngMost characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.
This origin belongs to the traditional form 賀; 贺 is its simplified writing.
Meaning part形符xíngfú
貝貝bèishellfish money
Sound part声符shēngfú
加
加jiā賀hè
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.
The traditional form 賀 pairs 貝 (shellfish money) with 加 as a sound part; the simplified 贺 is a later shorthand, not the historical shape.
Appears in
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