Chúc Mừng Năm Mới
[t͡ɕʊwk͡p̚˧˦ mɨŋ˨˩ nam˧˧ məːj˧˦]
Chúc Mừng Năm Mới is the Vietnamese phrase for happy lunar year.
This phrase is a standard greeting used to wish someone a Happy Lunar New Year during the lunar calendar celebrations. It can be used on its own as a complete greeting. You may also see variations used to express specific wishes, such as wishing for wealth, prosperity or peace and prosperity during the Tết holiday.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of chúc (wish), mừng (celebrate/congratulate), năm (year) and mới (new).
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase is a complete greeting on its own and does not require a subject like 'I' or 'You' to be grammatically correct in a social context. In formal greetings, it is common to capitalize the first letter of each word, although this is not strictly required by grammar.
When do people say it?
The greeting Tết đến, xuân về, an khang thịnh vượng! is used to wish someone good luck and prosperity, translating to 'When Tết comes, spring arrives, may you have peace and prosperity!'
Did you know?
- The word năm (year) may have its roots in an ancient verbal root meaning 'to dibble', a method used in rice farming.
- During the celebrations where Chúc Mừng Năm Mới is spoken, it is customary to give lucky money in red envelopes, but the gesture is as much about the color red as the money inside.
- In Vietnam, the arrival of the new year is so closely tied to nature that people often use the phrase xuân về meaning 'spring returns' interchangeably with the start of the year.
Examples in context
- Chúc Mừng Năm Mới nhé!Happy New Year!
- Chúc Mừng Năm Mới, chúc mọi người bình an.Happy New Year, wishing everyone peace.
- Cả gia đình cùng nói Chúc Mừng Năm Mới.The whole family says Happy New Year together.
Example conversation
Tuấn visits Hương's house during the first day of the lunar new year.
- TuấnChúc Mừng Năm Mới, thưa cô!Happy New Year, ma'am!
- HươngCảm ơn Tuấn, Chúc Mừng Năm Mới cháu nhé.Thank you Tuấn, Happy New Year to you too.
- TuấnChúc cô luôn mạnh khỏe và hạnh phúc.I wish you health and happiness.
- HươngCảm ơn cháu nhiều lắm.Thank you very much.
Sources
- Pronunciation from the Wiktionary entry chúc mừng năm mới.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries chúc, chúc mừng năm mới, mới, mừng, năm, CC BY-SA 4.0.
