新年快乐
The phrase 'happy chinese new year' in Chinese is 新年快乐.
While 新年快乐 literally means 'Happy New Year', it is the standard way to wish someone a Happy Chinese New Year during the Spring Festival.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of 新年 (xīnnián), meaning 'new year' and 快乐 (kuàilè), meaning 'happy'.
Is it said differently in some regions?
新年快乐 is the predominant phrase used in Mandarin Chinese during Chinese New Year.
When do people say it?
A common alternative greeting used during Chinese New Year, especially when giving red envelopes, is 恭喜发财 (gōngxǐ fācái), which means 'may you be prosperous and wealthy'.
Did you know?
- It is considered a social faux pas to respond to 新年快乐 with a simple 'thank you' without returning the wish or offering a complementary blessing.
- If you are greeting an elder, you might add 身体健康 to your phrase to wish them 'good health' alongside the new year greetings.
- Although 新年快乐 is used for the lunar new year, it is also used for the Gregorian New Year on January 1st, which can lead to confusion for travelers visiting in January.
Examples in context
- 你好，祝你新年快乐！Hello, I wish you a Happy New Year!
- 亲爱的朋友，新年好！Dear friends, Happy New Year!
- 祝你新年快乐！Zhù nǐ xīnnián kuàilè!Wish you a happy Chinese New Year!
- 新年快乐，大家身体健康。Xīnnián kuàilè, dàjiā shēntǐ jiànkāng.Happy Chinese New Year, and health to everyone.
- 对老师说新年快乐。Duì lǎoshī shuō xīnnián kuàilè.Say happy Chinese New Year to the teacher.
Example conversation
Zhiqiang and Jiayi meet at a family gathering during the holiday.
- 志强 Zhiqiang佳怡，新年快乐！Jiāyí, xīnnián kuàilè!Jiayi, happy Chinese New Year!
- 佳怡 Jiayi志强，也祝你新年快乐。Zhìqiáng, yě zhù nǐ xīnnián kuàilè.Zhiqiang, I wish you a happy Chinese New Year too.
- 志强 Zhiqiang你今年过年开心吗？Nǐ jīnnián guònián kāixīn ma?Are you having a happy New Year this year?
- 佳怡 Jiayi非常开心，谢谢你。Fēicháng kāixīn, xièxiè nǐ.Very happy, thank you.
