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 phrase 新年快樂 / 新年快乐 is the most common and universally accepted way to say Happy New Year. Other variations exist depending on whether you want to wish someone prosperity or use a more formal tone. For example, 恭喜發財 / 恭喜发财 is an idiomatic greeting specifically used during the Lunar New Year to wish someone wealth and success, translating to "Wishing you happiness and prosperity." Additionally, 万事如意 can be used to convey the wish for everything to go as you desire throughout the year.
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?
新年快樂 / 新年快乐 is a general way to say Happy New Year. In contrast, 恭喜發財 / 恭喜发财 specifically wishes someone prosperity and wealth. While 新年快樂 / 新年快乐 is the standard greeting, 新年好 is a simpler and more casual version.
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 say Happy New Year, which is often used in written cards or formal speeches. 新年快樂 / 新年快乐 is suitable for both formal and informal settings, whereas 新年好 is more casual.
Is it said differently in some regions?
新年快樂 / 新年快乐 is the most common and universally accepted way to say Happy New Year in Singapore Chinese.
How do you pronounce it?
xīnnián kuàilè
When do people say it?
恭喜發財 / 恭喜发财 is a very common greeting used specifically during the Lunar New Year. When someone says 恭喜發財 / 恭喜发财 to you, it is common to respond with the same phrase or simply say 謝謝 (thank you).
Did you know?
- The phrase 恭喜發財 / 恭喜发财 actually traces its roots back to the Cantonese-speaking region of Guangzhou following the Opium War, though it is now used across the Chinese-speaking world.
- In many Chinese households, greetings like 恭喜發財 / 恭喜发财 are accompanied by the giving of red envelopes containing money to children and elders.
- The character 禧 in 恭賀新禧 / 恭贺新禧 specifically refers to a type of joy associated with auspiciousness and good fortune.
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.
