恭贺 (gōng hè) — to congratulate

Definition

Formal, written verb for 'to congratulate,' used in speeches, cards, and announcements. More elevated than the everyday 祝贺, which is also used in speech. Often paired with 新禧, 乔迁 etc. in set phrases.

verb
to congratulate

Examples

  • 恭贺！
    gōng hè Nǐ shēng zhí!
    Congratulations on your promotion!
  • 恭贺。
    gōng hè Gōng sī chéng lì èr shí zhōu nián.
    Congratulations to the company on its 20th anniversary.
  • 恭贺！
    gōng hè Dà jiā xīn nián kuài lè!
    I wish everyone a happy New Year!

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
贺hècongratulate

恭贺 joins 恭, respectful, with 贺, congratulate, to mean offering respectful 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
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.

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 →

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