新婚快乐
xīnhūn kuàilèwedding, common
At a Chinese wedding the usual wish is 新婚快乐 (xīnhūn kuàilè), "happy newlywed life". Traditional blessings include 百年好合 (bǎi nián hǎo hé) and 白头偕老 (báitóu xiélǎo). It is also called 恭喜 (gōngxǐ).
Meaning: wedding congratulations (phrase)
Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 新婚快乐 | xīnhūn kuàilè | wedding, common |
| 百年好合 | bǎi nián hǎo hé | wedding, formal blessing |
| 白头偕老 | báitóu xiélǎo | wedding, blessing |
| 恭喜 | gōngxǐ | general |
People say 恭喜 (gōngxǐ) when they meet the couple or their parents. The longer four character blessings are often written on cards or said in toasts.
What does it mean word for word?
百年好合 (bǎi nián hǎo hé) wishes the couple a hundred years of harmony. 白头偕老 (báitóu xiélǎo) means to grow old together until the hair turns white.
When do people say it?
Guests commonly give money in a red envelope, called 红包 (hóngbāo), together with their wishes.
Did you know?
- 百年好合 (bǎi nián hǎo hé) is a four character set phrase, a common form for Chinese blessings.
Examples in context
- 新婚快乐！xīnhūn kuàilè!Happy wedding!
- 祝你们百年好合。zhù nǐmen bǎi nián hǎo hé.I wish you a hundred years of harmony.
Example conversation
At a wedding banquet in Guangzhou, Xiao Wang congratulates his colleague Lin and her new husband Hao.
- Xiao Wang恭喜你们！gōngxǐ nǐmen!Congratulations to you both!
- Lin谢谢你来。xièxie nǐ lái.Thank you for coming.
- Xiao Wang新婚快乐，祝你们白头偕老。xīnhūn kuàilè, zhù nǐmen báitóu xiélǎo.Happy wedding, I wish you to grow old together.
- Hao谢谢，请多吃一点。xièxie, qǐng duō chī yìdiǎn.Thank you, please eat more.
