贺卡

• Pinyin: hè kǎ
• Hanzi breakdown: 贺 = to congratulate; 卡 = card

Meaning

Greeting card. A decorative card sent for special occasions.

Used for birthdays, holidays, New Year, weddings, and other celebrations. Can be physical or digital (电子贺卡). Part of gift-giving culture for expressing well-wishes.

Examples

1. 我给妈妈亲手做了一张生日贺卡。 I made a birthday card for my mom by hand.
2. 春节前商店里摆满了各种贺卡。 Before Spring Festival, stores are filled with various greeting cards.
3. 现在很多人习惯发电子贺卡。 Nowadays many people are used to sending electronic greeting cards.

Usage Guide

Context: celebrations, gifts, holidays, greetings

Tone: warm

Do Say

• 谢谢你的贺卡！(Thank you for your greeting card!)
• 我收到了很多新年贺卡。(I received many New Year cards.)

Don't Say

• 贺卡 for business cards (that's 名片 — 贺卡 is specifically for occasions)

Origin & History

Compound of 贺 (to congratulate) + 卡 (card), meaning a card for congratulations.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal