賀

A phono-semantic compound:

貝 — represents wealth, gifts, or valuables

加 — provides the phonetic value (ha / ga) and also contributes the sense of adding or bestowing

The original idea is adding valuables as an offering, which naturally developed into the meaning “to congratulate with gifts.”

In early texts, 賀 is closely associated with ritual exchanges. Congratulations were not merely verbal but involved material offerings.

By the Han dynasty, 賀 had become the standard verb for formal celebration of rank, birth, victory, or auspicious occasions.

祝賀 (축하) — to congratulate; celebration

賀禮 (하례) — congratulatory gifts

賀狀 (하장) — letter of congratulations

慶賀 (경하) — to celebrate joyfully

賀年 (하년) — New Year greetings

賀 implies external acknowledgment of joy, often social or political.

Unlike 喜, which expresses internal emotion, 賀 is performed.

Unlike 祝, which may involve prayer or invocation, 賀 focuses on recognition and offering.

Thus, 賀 occupies a distinct space in classical culture "joy made public, formalized, and exchanged through ritual".

Semantically related characters:

祝 — to bless; to pray

慶 — celebration; joyous event

嘉 — praise; commend

喜 — joy; happiness

Ritual / gift-related:

賜 — to bestow from superior to inferior

贈 — to give a gift

禮 — ritual; propriety

Classical citations:

《左傳·僖公二十八年》 (Zuo Zhuan)

「晉侯使人賀之。」

“The Marquis of Jin sent someone to congratulate him.”

This reflects formal diplomatic congratulation, often implying gifts or tribute.

《禮記·曲禮》 (The Book of Rites)

「國有大慶，則相賀也。」

“When a state has a great celebration, the states congratulate one another.”

賀 is here clearly embedded in ritual propriety and interstate relations.

《史記·項羽本紀》 (The Records of the Grand Historian)

「諸侯皆來賀。」

“The feudal lords all came to offer congratulations.”

賀 denotes political acknowledgment and allegiance, not merely joy.

《白居易·賀雨》 (Bai Juyi's "Celebrating Rain")

「喜雨今宵降，明朝賀歲豐。」

“The joyful rain falls tonight; tomorrow we congratulate the year’s abundance.”

Here, 賀 is used in a celebratory, seasonal sense, tied to agricultural prosperity.