Chinese New Year: Popular Greetings

Posted on | March 19, 2009 | 1on1 Mandarin | Comments Off

A popular greeting to bring in the new year, which is equivalent to “Happy New Year”, is 新年快乐 (Xīnnián kuàilè). I have often heard my Chinese friends say, 元旦快乐 (yuándàn kuàilè), which means the same thing.

Another popular greeting is 恭喜发财 (Gōngxǐ fācái), which translates are “Congratulations and be prosperous”. There is a very popular song that is played every new year almost everywhere you go. Listen to this song:

As a joke, some youth would say the phrase, 恭喜发财，红包拿来 (Gōngxǐ fācái, hóngbāo nálái). This phrase translated in English means, “Congratulations and be prosperous, give me a red envelope”.

Related posts

• Lantern Festival (Yuánxiāojié 元宵节)
• Chinese New Year 2011 – Year of the Rabbit
• New Year in Haerbin-Ice and Snow Festival
• Tomb Sweeping Day – 清明节 (Qīng Míng Jiē)
• Traditional Chinese New Year Foods

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