厚礼 (hòu lǐ) — generous gift; lavish present

Definition

厚礼 means a ‘generous / lavish gift’ — the 厚 emphasizes the gift’s weight and value, used when the present is unusually substantial or heartfelt.

noun

generous giftlavish present

Measure word · 份

厚礼。
Tā sòng le yí fèn hòu lǐ gěi lǎo shī.
He gave a generous gift to the teacher.
厚礼。
Zhè fèn hòu lǐ dài biǎo le wǒ men quán jiā de xīn yì.
This lavish gift represents the heartfelt wishes of our whole family.
厚礼，。
Shōu dào rú cǐ hòu lǐ, tā gǎn dào fēi cháng róng xìng.
Receiving such a generous gift, he felt very honored.

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.

厚hòugenerous

厚 describes something generous or substantial, and 礼 names a gift, giving a lavish present.

Characters in this word

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

The shape of 厚 puts 𣆪, a jug, beneath 厂, a cliff or cave.

Most 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 禮; 礼 is its simplified writing.

礻豊禮

Meaning part形符xíngfú

礻Written in full as示shìaltar

Sound part声符shēngfú

豊

豊lǐ禮lǐ

Same sound today

The traditional form 禮 pairs 礻 (altar) with 豊, a sound part, for performing rites at the altar; the simplified 礼 is a later shorthand.