閣下

Chinese

Pronunciation

Noun

閣下

1. (literary) Your Excellency; His or Her Excellency; Your Honour

   • 閣下如此宏材大略，不出來做點事情實在可惜！ [Written Vernacular Chinese, trad.]
     阁下如此宏材大略，不出来做点事情实在可惜！ [Written Vernacular Chinese, simp.]

     From: 1907 CE, Liu E, The Travels of Lao Can

     Géxià rúcǐ hóng cái dàlüè, bù chūlái zuò diǎn shìqíng shízài kěxī!

     (please add an English translation of this usage example)

2. (archaic) at the foot of a tower or pavilion

   • 時漢書始出，多未能通者，同郡馬融伏於閣下，從昭言嶊。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     时汉书始出，多未能通者，同郡马融伏于阁下，从昭言嶊。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: The Book of the Later Han, circa 5^th century CE

     Shí hànshū shǐ chū, duō wèinéng tōng zhě, tóng jùn mǎ róng fú yú géxià, cóng zhāo yán 嶊.

     (please add an English translation of this usage example)

Usage notes

Originally a term of respect toward members of the nobility; became a more generic term of respect later on.

Synonyms

• 大駕／大驾 (dàjià)
• 足下 (zúxià)
• 左右 (zuǒyòu)
• 尊駕／尊驾 (zūnjià)

References

• “Entry #68188”, in 重編國語辭典修訂本 (in Chinese), National Academy for Educational Research (Taiwan), 2021.

Japanese

Etymology

Literary Chinese 閣下 (géxià)

Pronunciation

• (Tokyo) か​っか (Atamadaka – )
• IPA^(key):

• Audio

  (file)

Noun

閣(かっ)下(か) • (kakka) ^{←かくか (kakuka)?}

1. (rare, attributive) down a noble's residential tower, looking up

   Coordinate terms: 猊下, 殿下, 陛下

2. Your Excellency; His Excellency; Her Excellency; Your Lordship; His Lordship; Your Ladyship; Her Ladyship; Your Grace; His Grace; Her Grace

   Coordinate terms: 猊下, 殿下, 陛下

   大(だい)統(とう)領(りょう)閣(かっ)下(か)

   Daitōryō Kakka

   His/Her Excellency the President; Mr./Madam President

   ヨーク公(こう)閣(かっ)下(か)

   Yōku Kō Kakka

   His Grace the Duke of York

   • 1986 January 10, Tsurugina, Mai with Katō, Tadashi, “MENU①　幻の料理人 [MENU① The Illusory Cook]”, in ザ・シェフ [The Chef], volume 1 (fiction), Tōkyō: Nihon Bungeisha, →ISBN, page 7:

     ようこそ大臣閣下　お待ち申しておりました

     Yō koso Daijin Kakka Omachimōshite orimashita

     Welcome, Mr. Minister. We’ve been looking forward to seeing you.

   • 1986 January 10, Tsurugina, Mai with Katō, Tadashi, “MENU①　幻の料理人 [MENU① The Illusory Cook]”, in ザ・シェフ [The Chef], volume 1 (fiction), Tōkyō: Nihon Bungeisha, →ISBN, page 8:

     今夜の晩餐(ディナー)は日本におけるフランス料理の第一人者当ホテルの下村総料理長(グランドシェフ)が腕によりをかけて料理いたします　閣下にはきっとご満足いただけるものと信じております

     Kon’ya no dinā wa Nihon ni okeru Furansu ryōri no daiichininsha tō-hoteru no Shimomura Gurando Shefu ga ude ni yori o kakete ryōri Kakka ni wa kitto gomanzoku itadakeru mono to shinjite orimasu

     Our top Japanese executive chef of French cuisine, Shimomura, will use his best efforts to prepare a good dinner tonight. I am confident you will receive the best service.

Korean

Noun

閣下 • (gakha) (hangeul 각하)

1. Hanja form^? of 각하 (“Excellency; President”).

Vietnamese

Pronoun

閣下

1. chữ Hán form of các hạ (“(Chinese fiction, honorific) you”).