congratulate

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: The on reading is が, and no kun reading is listed. It has 12 strokes and relates to celebrating a happy occasion.
• Basic usage: 年賀 is read ねんが, and 年賀状 is read ねんがじょう.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• 年賀 / 年賀状
  • 年賀 means New Year's greetings. It is a noun read ねんが. It broadly refers to New Year's greetings or congratulations.
  • 年賀の挨拶を短い手紙に書いた。 means “I wrote a New Year's greeting in a short letter.”
  • 年賀状 means New Year's card. It is a noun read ねんがじょう. It specifically means a postcard or card sent with New Year's greetings.
  • 祖母に送る年賀状に家族の写真を添えました。 means “I included a family photograph with the New Year's card for my grandmother.”