Learn a Chinese Character - 贺 (Hè - Congratulate; celebrate; send congratulations)

1. Character Basics

Radical: 贝/bèi (shell/money) + 加/jiā (add)

Stroke Count: 9 strokes

Stroke Order:

2. Pronunciation

Pinyin: Hè (Fourth tone)

3. Meaning

Basic Meaning: Congratulate; celebrate; send congratulations

Extended Meaning: Express joy or good wishes; honor; pay respect

Additional Notes: Often used in formal and informal contexts to express congratulations on happy occasions such as weddings, birthdays, promotions, etc.

4. Common Words

• 祝贺 (zhù hè) - Congratulate

  我们都来祝贺你的成功。(Wǒmen dōu lái zhùhè nǐ de chénggōng.) - We all come to congratulate you on your success.

• 贺喜 (hè xǐ) - Congratulate on happy events

  我是来给你们贺喜的。(Wǒ shì lái gěi nǐmen hè xǐ de.) - I'm here to congratulate you on your happy event.

• 贺年 (hè nián) - Greet the New Year

  春节期间，人们互相贺年。(Chūnjié qījiān, rénmen hùxiāng hènián.) - During Spring Festival, people greet each other for the New Year.

• 贺礼 (hè lǐ) - Gift presented as a token of congratulation

  这是我们的贺礼，请收下。(Zhè shì wǒmen de hèlǐ, qǐng shōuxià.) - This is our congratulatory gift, please accept it.

• 贺卡 (hè kǎ) - Greeting card

  我收到了很多新年贺卡。(Wǒ shōudào le hěnduō xīnnián hèkǎ.) - I received many New Year greeting cards.

5. Grammar & Usage

Part of Speech: Verb, Noun

Usage:

• As a verb: to express congratulations (often followed by an object)

  贺寿 (hè shòu) - Congratulate on someone's birthday

• As a noun: short for 贺礼 (hè lǐ - congratulatory gift)

Common Structures:

• 祝贺 + person/achievement: 祝贺你毕业 (Zhùhè nǐ bìyè) - Congratulations on your graduation
• 向 + person + 贺喜: 向新婚夫妇贺喜 (Xiàng xīn hūn fūfù hèxǐ) - Congratulate the newlyweds

Note: "贺" is more formal than "恭喜 (gōngxǐ)" in Chinese, but both can be used to express congratulations.

6. Cultural Background

In Chinese culture, expressing congratulations and good wishes is an important social etiquette. The character "贺" plays a significant role in various traditional ceremonies and celebrations.

• Festive Customs: During important festivals like Spring Festival, people visit each other to "贺年 (hè nián)" and exchange good wishes for the coming year.
• Wedding Tradition: In traditional Chinese weddings, guests present "贺礼 (hè lǐ)" to the newlyweds as a token of good wishes.
• Business Culture: When a business opens, people send "贺联 (hè lián)" (congratulatory couplets) to express good luck and prosperity wishes.

The practice of using "贺" in celebrations reflects the Chinese values of harmony, community, and sharing joy with others.

7. Example Sentence

8. Memory Tips

1. Structure Memory: Remember that "贺" consists of 贝 (bèi, meaning shell/money) and 加 (jiā, meaning add). In ancient times, people added valuable shells to express congratulations.

2. Semantic Association: Associate "贺" with occasions that make people happy, such as weddings, birthdays, and achievements.

3. Phrase Linking: Learn common phrases containing "贺" like 祝贺, 贺喜, 贺卡 to strengthen your memory.

4. Stroke Order Practice: Practice writing the character in the correct stroke order: start with the horizontal stroke at the top, then the vertical, followed by the rest.

5. Cultural Context: Connect the character with Chinese celebration customs to deepen your understanding and memory.