贺

賀

hè

加 + 贝

Definitions

hè (verb) to congratulate

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 贝 represents the meaning and 加 represents the sound. Simplified form of 賀.

About

贺 is the simplified form of 賀, a phono-semantic compound. The traditional character combines 貝 (bèi, "cowrie shell" or "money") at the bottom, signaling wealth or gifts, with 加 (jiā, "to add") above for its sound. In the simplification, 貝 is replaced by 贝. The original meaning, offering valuables or presents during a celebration, broadened into the modern sense of congratulating, sending greetings, or marking a joyful occasion.

Etymology Hide

Bronze Late Warring States (~250 BC)

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

祝贺你取得成功。

Zhù hè nǐ qǔ dé chéng gōng.

Congratulations on your success.

我衷心祝贺你的婚礼。

Wǒ zhōng xīn zhù hè nǐ de hūn lǐ.

I sincerely congratulate you on your wedding.

我们为他送上一份贺礼。

Wǒ men wèi tā sòng shàng yí fèn hè lǐ.

We presented him with a congratulatory gift.

春节时人们互相道贺。

Chūn jié shí rén men hù xiāng dào hè.

During the Spring Festival, people congratulate each other.

大家纷纷发来贺电表示庆祝。

Dà jiā fēn fēn fā lái hè diàn biǎo shì qìng zhù.

Everyone sent congratulatory telegrams one after another to celebrate.

他的公司开业，收到了很多贺信。

Tā de gōng sī kāi yè， shōu dào le hěn duō hè xìn.

His company opened for business and received many congratulatory letters.

他在贺卡上写下了诚挚的祝福。

Tā zài hè kǎ shang xiě xià le chéng zhì de zhù fú.

He wrote sincere blessings on the congratulatory card.

在庆功宴上，大家举杯向他致贺。

Zài qìng gōng yàn shang, dà jiā jǔ bēi xiàng tā zhì hè.

At the victory banquet, everyone raised their glasses to offer him congratulations.

Related Characters

Component: 加

Component: 贝

贺