gung1 ho6恭賀恭贺
Jyutpinggung1 ho6
Yalegūng hoh
Definition
To congratulate someone on a happy event.
neutralpeopleother
How it's used
Formal in tone, this word is primarily reserved for significant life events like weddings, promotions, or major festivals. Using it for trivial matters can sound overly stiff or even sarcastic. It is most commonly encountered in written greetings or formal speeches rather than casual conversation between close friends.
Examples
We came specially to congratulate you on your happy marriage.
You got a promotion, I really must congratulate you!
Related words
Common phrases
Happy New Year
congratulations on moving to a new home
Common mistake
Learners often mistakenly use this for everyday achievements where 恭喜 is far more natural and appropriate. While 恭賀 implies a formal ceremony or official recognition, 恭喜 is the versatile choice for any happy news.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
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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.
