祝福

• Pinyin: zhù fú
• Hanzi breakdown: 祝 = 示 (altar/spirit) + 兄 (elder brother kneeling in prayer), to make a wish; 福 = 示 + 畐 (a full jar), good fortune/blessing

Meaning

To bless; to wish someone well; blessing. An expression of goodwill, often with a religious or heartfelt connotation.

Can be a verb (祝福你 — I wish you well) or a noun (送上我的祝福 — send my blessings). Common on occasions like birthdays, weddings, the New Year, and farewell gatherings. More emotionally warm than the neutral 祝 (to wish) alone. Used in speech, cards, messages, and formal occasions.

Examples

1. 新年到来之际，请接受我最真诚的祝福。 As the New Year arrives, please accept my most sincere blessings.
2. 她在婚礼上收到了来自亲朋好友的无数祝福。 She received countless blessings from family and friends at her wedding.
3. 每逢重要节日，他都会给远方的家人发送祝福短信。 On every important holiday, he sends blessing messages to his family members far away.

Usage Guide

Context: family, celebrations, everyday

Tone: warm

Do Say

• 祝你生日快乐，万事如意！(Wishing you a happy birthday and may all your wishes come true!)
• 我衷心地祝福你们新婚幸福，白头偕老。(I sincerely wish you a happy marriage and a long life together.)

Don't Say

• 用'祝福'来表示对自己的良好祝愿 (Don't use 祝福 to express wishes for yourself — it is directed towards others; for your own hopes, use 希望 or 期待)

Origin & History

From 祝 (to make wishes at an altar, 示 spirit altar + 兄 elder brother kneeling) and 福 (good fortune, 示 + 畐 a jar full of food and wine — abundance), together meaning 'to call upon good fortune for someone'.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal