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 most common and standard way to say 'Happy New Year' is 新年快樂 / 新年快乐. Other variations include wishing someone prosperity and wealth with 恭喜發財 / 恭喜发财, or wishing that all wishes come true with 万事如意. You may also wish someone a surplus of prosperity and abundance in the coming year using 年年有余.
Which one should you use?
新年快樂 / 新年快乐 is a general way to say Happy New Year, whereas 恭喜發財 / 恭喜发财 specifically wishes the listener prosperity and wealth. For a simpler and more casual greeting, you can use 新年好, which is less rhythmic than 新年快樂 / 新年快乐.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
新年快樂 / 新年快乐 is the standard and common expression. For a more formal and elegant approach, often seen on formal cards or written banners, use 恭賀新禧 / 恭贺新禧. In casual situations, 新年好 is a common choice.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Cantonese, spoken in Hong Kong and Guangdong, people say 恭喜發財 / 恭喜发财 (Gung hei fat choi) to wish each other prosperity in the New Year.
How do you pronounce it?
xīnnián kuàilè
When do people say it?
When someone says 恭喜發財 / 恭喜发财 to you, it is common to respond with the same phrase or simply 謝謝 (thank you).
Did you know?
- While 新年快樂 / 新年快乐 is a general greeting, the phrase 恭喜發財 / 恭喜发财 is often accompanied by the giving of 'red envelopes' containing money.
- The phrase 恭喜發財 / 恭喜发财 actually originated in the Cantonese dialect of Guangzhou after the Opium Wars before becoming popular in Mandarin.
- In some regions, 恭喜發財 / 恭喜发财 is used as a general greeting during the entire fifteen-day Lunar New Year festival, not just on New Year's Day.
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.
