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Kotomora

賀

congratulations, joy

JLPTN1StatusJōyō · grade 4FrequencyTop 2,000Strokes12

Readings

On'yomi

  • ガ

Kun'yomi

—

Nanori

  • か
  • のり
  • よし
  • より

Meaning

賀 centers on expressing joy and offering congratulations, often in a celebratory context.

Most common words using 賀

20 of 65
  • 佐賀さが

    Saga (city, prefecture)

  • 滋賀しが

    Shiga (prefecture)

  • 加賀かが

    Kaga (former province located in the south of present-day Ishikawa Prefecture)

  • 賀が

    congratulation; celebration

  • 年賀状ねんがじょう
    N4

    New Year's card

  • 伊賀いが

    Iga (former province located in the west of present-day Mie Prefecture)

  • 祝賀しゅくが
    N1

    celebration; congratulations

  • 年賀ねんが
    N1

    New Year's greetings; New Year's call; New Year's gift

  • 謹賀きんが

    wishes of happiness

  • 宇賀神うがじん

    god of harvests and wealth (syncretized with Saraswati, and often taking the form of a heavenly woman, a white snake or a fox)

  • 参賀さんが

    congratulatory visit to the Imperial Palace (e.g. at New Year)

  • 祝賀会しゅくがかい

    celebration

  • 賀状がじょう

    New Year's card

  • 賀正がしょう

    A Happy New Year!

  • 謹賀新年きんがしんねん

    Happy New Year

  • 一般参賀いっぱんさんが

    congratulatory visit to the Imperial Palace (for New Year and the Emperor's birthday)

  • 佐賀の乱さがのらん

    Saga Rebellion (1874)

  • 佐賀医科大学さがいかだいがく

    Saga Medical School

  • 佐賀大学さがだいがく

    Saga University

  • 佐賀県さがけん

    Saga Prefecture

Explore all words using 賀 →

Study

Etymology

賀 combines 加 (add) and 貝 (shell/money), originally suggesting adding a gift or offering to express congratulations.

Meaning mnemonic

Adding 加 a shell 貝 as a gift is a way to show joy and offer congratulations.

Reading mnemonic

For ガ, imagine a joyful gathering where everyone shouts 'GA!' in celebration: the sound 'GA' cues ガ while people congratulate each other.