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Chinese New Year greetings
Tap ▶ to hear each phrase. Chinese greetings are four-character wishes, and the trick is matching the wish to the person: health for grandparents, success for colleagues, good grades for kids.
The essentials
Safe with anyone, any day of the festival.
- 新年快乐xīn nián kuài lèCantonese: San nin fai lokHappy New Year
The universal greeting. Works in person, by text, with anyone.
- 春节快乐chūn jié kuài lèHappy Spring Festival
Same as above; slightly more formal, good for cards and messages.
- 恭喜发财gōng xǐ fā cáiCantonese: Gung hei fat choiCongratulations and be prosperous
The classic. Expect the reply “红包拿来!” (“red envelope, please!”) from kids.
- 万事如意wàn shì rú yìCantonese: Maan si jyu jiMay everything go as you wish
Pairs well with almost anything: 新年快乐，万事如意!
- 心想事成xīn xiǎng shì chéngMay all your wishes come true
Warm and personal; great for friends.
- 身体健康shēn tǐ jiàn kāngCantonese: San tai gin hongGood health
Always welcome, especially for older relatives.
- 年年有余nián nián yǒu yúAbundance year after year
The fish pun. Perfect at the reunion dinner.
- 岁岁平安suì suì píng ānPeace and safety every year
Also what you say if something breaks during the festival.
- 阖家幸福hé jiā xìng fúHappiness to your whole family
Polite and warm when greeting a family or a host.
- 大吉大利dà jí dà lìCantonese: Daai gat daai leiGreat luck and great profit
Lively, and popular in Cantonese-speaking communities.
Year of the Goat specials
羊 (yáng, goat) sounds like 阳 (sun) and 洋 (abundant), so 2027 is full of puns.
- 羊年大吉yáng nián dà jíGreat luck in the Year of the Goat
This year's most common greeting on cards and posters.
- 三阳开泰sān yáng kāi tàiThree yang bring prosperity
A classic from the Book of Changes: 阳 (yang) sounds like 羊 (goat), so it's the Goat year greeting with the most style.
- 喜气洋洋xǐ qì yáng yángFull of joy
洋洋 (abundant) sounds like 羊羊 (goat goat). Fun and cheerful.
- 吉祥如意jí xiáng rú yìGood fortune and all you wish
The character 祥 (auspicious) contains 羊, and in ancient texts 羊 itself meant “auspicious”.
- 羊年行大运yáng nián xíng dà yùnGood luck in the Goat year
Casual and upbeat, good for friends and group chats.
For grandparents and elders
Wish them happiness and a long life.
- 福如东海fú rú dōng hǎiFortune as vast as the Eastern Sea
Traditionally paired with the next one for an elder's birthday or New Year.
- 寿比南山shòu bǐ nán shānLong life like the Southern Mountain
Say both together: 福如东海，寿比南山.
- 健康长寿jiàn kāng cháng shòuHealth and long life
Simple and heartfelt for grandparents.
For colleagues, bosses and business
Success, promotions and prosperity.
- 生意兴隆shēng yì xīng lóngProsperous business
For shop owners, clients and business partners.
- 财源广进cái yuán guǎng jìnWealth flowing in from all sides
Business and money wishes; very common in Chinese communities abroad.
- 步步高升bù bù gāo shēngRise step by step
For colleagues: wishing them a promotion.
- 工作顺利gōng zuò shùn lìSmooth work
Low-key and safe for any colleague.
- 开工大吉kāi gōng dà jíA lucky start back at work
On the first day back at work after the holiday.
For children (and what they say back)
- 学业进步xué yè jìn bùProgress in your studies
For students of any age.
- 健康成长jiàn kāng chéng zhǎngGrow up healthy
For young children, usually with a red envelope.
- 红包拿来hóng bāo ná láiRed envelope, please!
What cheeky kids (and friends) say back to 恭喜发财. Use only as a joke!
How to reply
When someone greets you first.
- 同喜同喜tóng xǐ tóng xǐSame joy to you
The polite reply when someone congratulates you.
- 新年快乐，你也是xīn nián kuài lè, nǐ yě shìHappy New Year, you too
Natural and easy, works for any greeting.
Make a New Year card
Pick a greeting, add your name (in Chinese, if you have one) and save the card to share. Free.
Frequently asked questions
- How do you say Happy New Year in Chinese?
- 新年快乐: xīn nián kuài lè. Say it like “sheen nyen kwai luh”.
- What does Gong Xi Fa Cai mean?
- 恭喜发财 means “congratulations and be prosperous”. “Gung hei fat choi” is the same phrase in Cantonese.
- What should I say to Chinese elders at New Year?
- 身体健康 (good health) or 福如东海，寿比南山 (fortune like the sea, long life like the mountains). Say it with a small bow and both hands if you're handing over a gift.
- What's a good greeting for the Year of the Goat?
- 羊年大吉 (great luck in the Goat year) or 三阳开泰. 阳 sounds like 羊, so it's a classic pun for this year.
Customs vary by region and family. These are widely shared traditions, offered as cultural background.