Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 新年快樂 / 新年快乐 | xīnnián kuàilè | |
| 新年好 | xīnnián hǎo | |
| 恭賀新禧 / 恭贺新禧 | gōnghèxīnxǐ | |
| 恭喜发财 | gōngxǐ fācái | |
| 恭喜發財 / 恭喜发财 | gōngxǐ fācái | idiomatic |
The phrases used to say Happy New Year in Chinese vary depending on whether you are wishing someone a general happy new year, a happy Spring Festival or specifically wishing them prosperity and wealth.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase 新年快樂 / 新年快乐 breaks down into xīnnián (new year) and kuàilè (happy).
Which one should you use?
While 新年快樂 / 新年快乐 is a general way to say Happy New Year, the phrase 恭喜發財 / 恭喜发财 is used specifically to wish someone prosperity and wealth. During the Chinese New Year period, you may also use 新春快乐 to specifically wish someone a Happy Spring Festival.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For formal settings, 新年快乐 is a common choice. For a more elegant and formal expression of greetings, you can use 恭賀新禧 / 恭贺新禧. In contrast, 新年好 and 过年好 are informal phrases used in everyday conversation among friends and family.
How do you pronounce it?
xīnnián kuàilè
When do people say it?
During the Lunar New Year, it is classic to use the idiomatic greeting 恭喜發財 / 恭喜发财 to wish the recipient wealth and success. Another common wish is 年年有余, which conveys wishes for an abundant and surplus year, especially regarding finances.
Did you know?
- The wish 年年有余 relies on a pun, as the word for 'surplus' sounds exactly like the word for 'fish' in Chinese.
- The phrase 恭喜發財 / 恭喜发财 originated in Cantonese in Guangzhou after the Opium Wars and later spread throughout the Chinese speaking world.
- People often pair the greeting 恭喜發財 / 恭喜发财 with the giving of 'hongbao', which are red envelopes containing money.
Examples in context
- 祝您年年有余Wishing you an abundant year
Sources
- Wiktionary, “happy new year” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 恭喜發財, CC BY-SA 4.0.
