ging3 ho6敬賀敬贺
Jyutpingging3 ho6
Yaleging hoh
Definition
To express gratitude or congratulate a person of higher status or seniority.
writtenpeoplecommunication
How it's used
Reserved for formal contexts, this term is primarily used in written correspondence or during ceremonial occasions to show deep respect. It is rarely used in casual, everyday speech between friends or peers. When used, it implies a significant social distance or a clear hierarchy between the sender and the recipient.
Examples
We wrote a card to congratulate our teacher on their retirement.
Have you prepared what gift to give to congratulate them?
Related words
Common phrases
congratulate on retirement
congratulate on promotion
Common mistake
Learners often mistakenly use this for casual congratulations among friends, which sounds overly stiff and unnatural. Use 恭喜 instead for general, informal situations.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
