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 |
恭喜發財 / 恭喜发财 is a very common idiomatic greeting used during the Lunar New Year, particularly when greeting elders or business associates. Many people pair 恭喜發財 / 恭喜发财 with 新年快樂 / 新年快乐 during Spring Festival (Lunar New Year) celebrations.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase 新年快樂 is composed of 新年 (new year) and 快樂 (happy).
Which one should you use?
新年快樂 / 新年快乐 is a general greeting for the new year, whereas 恭喜發財 / 恭喜发财 specifically wishes someone prosperity and wealth. Additionally, 新年好 is a simpler, more casual greeting compared to the more rhythmic and traditional 新年快樂 / 新年快乐.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
恭賀新禧 / 恭贺新禧 is a more formal and elegant way to express New Year greetings, often used in written cards or formal speeches.
How do you pronounce it?
xīnnián kuàilè
When do people say it?
Giving red envelopes (红包 – hóngbāo) with money inside is a common practice during the Chinese New Year.
Did you know?
- The greeting 恭喜發財 / 恭喜发财 originated in Cantonese in Guangzhou after the Opium War and only later became a general phrase used across all Chinese dialects.
- The greeting 恭喜發財 / 恭喜发财 focuses on wealth, reflecting a cultural priority where wishing for financial success is considered a polite and thoughtful gesture.
- The formal greeting 恭賀新禧 / 恭贺新禧 uses the character 禧, which refers to a specific type of 'auspicious happiness' often associated with marriage or children.
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.
