The Lunar New Year is a massive event celebrated by the Chinese, Japanese and Koreans and many more countries around the world. It’s based on the lunar cycle and thus, the date usually falls between January and February depending on the start of spring in the lunar calendar. The Lunar New Year celebrations are taken very seriously and people flock from all over the world to bear witness to their awesome spectacle. Also, they actually last at least 15 days! Chinese New Year greetings have evolved in many ways.
In this article, we are going to focus on how the Lunar New Year is celebrated by Chinese people around the world. With fireworks, dances, processions and other intense displays, the celebrations are a real sight to behold culturally, the Chinese people use new year as means of ushering out bad fortune and replacing them with good luck for the year ahead.
Chinese New Year is an awesome time of year and learning how to greet others is a fun way to add to the buzz! Every wish denotes a different meaning and can be different for singles, married couples, businesses, health, wealth, career and so on. There are many ways of saying ‘happy new year’ in Chinese, here’s no less than 28 methods (because 28 is also a lucky number in Chinese metaphysics)!
恭禧發財 – Gong Xi Fa Cai
This means ‘wish you to be prosperous in the new year’. If someone says this to you, you simply reply with the same phrase.
You could also reply with Hong Bao Na Lai, “Red envelope please!” This phrase can be reciprocated between friends or colleagues. It’s a jokey way of asking for luck. Red is considered the luckiest colour in Chinese culture, followed by orange and yellow.
The elders give their kids and unmarried individuals red envelopes with money on new year. There’s nothing better than a lucky red envelope full of money!
Take a look at more Chinese New Year greetings that you can try out this year! 🙂
新年快乐 – Xin Nian Kuai Le
Best wishes for the New Year.
万事如意 – Wàn Shì Rú Yì
Hope Your Wishes Come True!
恭贺新禧 – Gōng Hè Xīn Xǐ
Good luck in the year ahead!
岁岁平安 – Suì Suì Píng’ān
Peace all year round.
心想事成 – Xīn Xiǎng Shì Chéng
May all your wishes come true.
和气生财 – Héqì Shēngcái
Harmony brings wealth.
财源广进 – Cáiyuán Guǎng Jìn
Money and treasures will be plentiful.
升官发财 – Shēngguān Fācái
Promoting to a higher position.
招财进宝 – Zhāo Cái Jìn Bǎo
Treasures fill the home.
年年有馀 – Nián Nián Yǒu Yú
Wishing you prosperity every year.
祝贺佳节 – Zhùhè Jiājié
With the compliments of the season.
祝财运亨通！- Zhù Cáiyùn Hēngtōng!
I want to wish you longevity and health!
祝吉星高照！- Zhù Jíxīng Gāo Zhào!
May you come into a good fortune!
笑口常開 – Xiào Kǒu Cháng Kāi
May you smile often.
身体健康 – Shēn Tǐ Jiàn Kāng
Wishing you good health.
福壽雙全 – Sú Shòu Shuāng Quán
May you enjoy both longevity and blessing.
步步高升 – Bù Bù Gāo Shēng
May every step take you higher.
事业发达 – Shì Yè Fā Dá
May your career to take off!
升官发财 – Shēng Guān Fā Cái
May you get promoted and receive a raise!
招財進寶 – Zhāo Cái Jìn Bǎo
May you find wealth and treasures!
財源滾滾 – Cái Yuán Gǔn Gǔn
May wealth come pouring in!
大吉大利 – Dà Jí Dà Lì
May you have great luck and great profit!
福禄寿 – Fú Lù Shòu
Happiness, Prosperity, Longevity!
一本萬利 – Yī Běn Wàn Lì
Hope you put in a small investment and reap a huge profit!
金玉滿堂 – Jīn Yù Mǎn Táng
May your gold and jade fill the halls!
生意兴隆 – Shēngyì Xīnglóng
Business flourishes.
