庆贺 is a formal, written-style verb meaning 'to celebrate'—typically used for significant, joyful occasions such as weddings, national holidays, major achievements, or milestones. It combines two characters with overlapping meanings: 庆 (qìng) means 'to celebrate, to congratulate', often implying festivity and auspiciousness; 贺 (hè) means 'to congratulate, to wish well', emphasizing goodwill and respect. Together, they form a compound that stresses both the festive atmosphere and the sincere expression of joy toward others.

This word is commonly found in official announcements, news reports, formal speeches, and written invitations. While it can appear in spoken Chinese, it sounds more elevated than everyday alternatives like 庆祝 (qìngzhù) or 过节 (guò jié). It is rarely used for casual, personal celebrations (e.g., a friend’s birthday party), where simpler verbs are preferred. The structure is typically transitive: 庆贺 + [event or person], e.g., 庆贺国庆 (celebrate National Day) or 庆贺他获奖 (celebrate his award).