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恭喜 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
恭喜gōngxǐcongratulationsHSK 5, a, 22 strokes, rank #980, Hard
恭喜gōngxǐgreetingsHSK 5, a, 22 strokes, rank #980, Hard
gōngxǐ(gong1xi3)gong xi T1
  1. 1congratulations
  2. 2greetings
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March 24, 2026

恭喜gōngxǐ(gong1xi3)

恭喜 (gōng xǐ) means 'congratulations' or 'to express greetings' in a celebratory context. It is commonly used to congratulate someone on their achievements or during festive occasions, such as the Lunar New Year, weddings, or when someone receives good news.

Strokes22Frequency#980DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, expressing 恭喜 is an essential part of social etiquette, especially during New Year celebrations when people exchange greetings to wish each other good fortune and happiness for the year ahead.

Memory Tip

Imagine a joyful person bowing slightly (恭) while smiling and saying 'congratulations' (喜). The bowing gesture signifies respect and the happiness in giving congratulations, thus connecting the form of the character to its meaning.

Meanings of 恭喜

gōngxǐ(gong1xi3)
1congratulations
2greetings
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 恭喜

恭喜Simplified
22Strokes
—Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#980Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L5HSK 3.0L5AdvancedCEFRC2

Podcast: 恭喜

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Podcast: 恭喜

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AI Study Notes for 恭喜

Quick Contrast

祝贺 (zhùhè) vs 恭喜 (gōngxǐ): 祝贺 is more formal and can be used in a wider range of contexts, while 恭喜 is often used in celebratory situations.

Usage Notes

This expression is generally informal but can be used in various contexts, including formal celebrations. A common mistake is to use it when there’s no reason for congratulations, such as saying it after a loss. Remember to use the correct tone: gōng (1st tone) and xǐ (3rd tone).

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK 5 word, 恭喜 connects well with other celebratory vocabulary and phrases. Students should focus on the contexts in which it is used and practice combining it with other words related to happiness and congratulations.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 恭喜 with other greetings, using it inappropriately during sad occasions. For example, saying '恭喜' at a funeral is incorrect; instead, one might express condolences.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 恭喜

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Component Characters

恭gōngrespectful
10 strokes⺗
View full entry
喜xǐto be fond of
HSK 112 strokes口
View full entry

How to say congratulations in Chinese

“congratulations” in Chinese is恭喜gōngxǐ

恭喜 (gōng xǐ) means 'congratulations' or 'to express greetings' in a celebratory context. It is commonly used to congratulate someone on their achievements or during festive occasions, such as the Lunar New Year, weddings, or when someone receives good news.

When to use 恭喜

This expression is generally informal but can be used in various contexts, including formal celebrations. A common mistake is to use it when there’s no reason for congratulations, such as saying it after a loss. Remember to use the correct tone: gōng (1st tone) and xǐ (3rd tone).

恭喜 or something close to it

祝贺 (zhùhè) vs 恭喜 (gōngxǐ): 祝贺 is more formal and can be used in a wider range of contexts, while 恭喜 is often used in celebratory situations.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 恭喜 with other greetings, using it inappropriately during sad occasions. For example, saying '恭喜' at a funeral is incorrect; instead, one might express condolences.

Write 恭喜

恭
喜

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Frequently Asked Questions about 恭喜

Use 恭喜 to congratulate someone on positive events like promotions, weddings, or the birth of a child.

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