On 謹賀

謹賀新年 (Kingashinnen: Happy New Year)
     respectfully + to congratulate + new + year

The last two kanji are common: 新 (SHIN, atara(shii): new) and 年 (NEN, toshi: year). But how about the first two?

The first, 謹 (KIN, tsutsushi(mu)), means “respectfully.” Here’s another word where it has that meaning:

謹呈する (kintei suru: to present (a gift)
     respectfully)     respectfully + to present (a gift)

Meanwhile, 賀 (GA) means “to congratulate, greet, celebrate.” You may have encountered it in this word:

年賀状 (nengajō: New Year’s card)
     year + to congratulate + letter

As you may know, a JPod staff member has just blogged about the etymology of 賀.

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