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可贺 (kě hè) — worthy of congratulations; celebratory (in set phrases)

Definition

可贺 (kěhè) is a formal adjective meaning 'worth celebrating' — it almost always appears in the set phrase 可喜可贺. Not used in casual speech; pair it with 可喜 to praise an achievement.

adjective
worthy of congratulationscelebratory (in set phrases)

Examples

  • 可贺。
    Zhè cì chéng gōng zhēn shì kě xǐ kě hè.
    This success is truly gratifying and worthy of congratulations.
  • 可贺，。
    Tā de chéng jiù kě xǐ kě hè, wǒ men dōu wèi tā gāo xìng.
    His achievements are gratifying and worthy of congratulations; we are all happy for him.
  • 可贺。
    Zhè shì yí gè kě hè de xiāo xi.
    This is a piece of news worthy of congratulations.

Origin

Derived word
构词法gòucífǎ
前缀qiánzhuìPrefix

A fixed syllable in front that adds a shade of meaning but carries none of its own.

可kěworthy of
贺hècongratulate

可贺 uses 可, 'worthy of', with 贺, 'congratulate', to mean worthy of congratulations.

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
口口kǒu
Sound part声符shēngfú
丂
丂kǎo可kě
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

可 pairs 口 (mouth) with 丂 as a sound part; it is tied to air from the mouth, perhaps singing.

Open 可 →

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 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.

Open 贺 →
Appears in
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