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 |
Chinese offers several ways to wish someone a happy new year depending on the level of formality and specific wishes. You can use general greetings for happiness, more casual greetings for friends or specific wishes for prosperity and wealth.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase 新年快樂 / 新年快乐 is composed of 新年 (new year) and 快樂 (happy).
Which one should you use?
While 新年快樂 / 新年快乐 is a general greeting for the new year, 恭喜發財 / 恭喜发财 specifically wishes someone prosperity and wealth. Additionally, 新年好 is a simpler and more casual alternative to 新年快樂 / 新年快乐.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For formal written greetings or official statements, use the elegant phrase 恭賀新禧 / 恭贺新禧. In casual settings with friends and family, 新年好 is a widely used and simple choice. The idiomatic phrase 恭喜發財 / 恭喜发财 is specifically used to wish for wealth.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the northern regions of China, the colloquial phrase 过年好 is commonly used. The Cantonese variation 恭喜發財 / 恭喜发财 is often used in Hong Kong and Macau.
How do you pronounce it?
xīnnián kuàilè
Did you know?
- Because China celebrates both the Lunar New Year and the Gregorian New Year, these phrases may be used twice within a few weeks.
- While 恭喜發財 / 恭喜发财 is now used across China, it actually originated in the Cantonese speaking region of Guangzhou after the Opium War.
- In many Cantonese-speaking households, the phrase 恭喜發財 / 恭喜发财 is often paired with a physical gesture of receiving red envelopes, known as 红包 / 红包, which contain money for the new year.
Example sentences for Chinese are not verified yet.
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.
