Learn how to say Happy Chinese New Year in Mandarin and Cantonese, including different greetings and their meanings. Discover the proper way to wish prosperity and explore alternative phrases for the Spring Festival.
Chinese New Year is upon us – so how can you wish friends and family a happy one? It’s not gong hei fat choy, so here’s how to give it a go. Chinese New Year falls on Wednesday, January 29 and this year is the Year of the Wood Snake. Chinese New Year, or the Spring Festival, celebrates the beginning of a new year according to the traditional Chinese calendar – and celebrations will last just over two weeks, until the full moon.
There are multiple ways you can wish friends, family, colleagues or people you meet a Happy Chinese New Year. But as with many languages, which greeting you use will depend on who you are addressing – and how. Here’s all you need to know. To say Happy Chinese New Year in Chinese and Mandarin, Journalist, blogger, podcaster and author Qin Xie previously explained for Metro: ‘Happy Chinese New Year is xin nian (new year) kuai le (happy) in Mandarin, and it’s pronounced shin nee-an kwai le (as in the French le). ‘You can also use a shorted version, which is xin nian (new year) hao (good), which is pronounced shin nee-an how. This is probably the one you’d want to say to your friends and family.’ Missed the exact day but still want to wish someone a Happy Chinese New Year? No problem. The greeting guo (spend) nian (year) hao (good) – pronounced gor nee-an how – is one that can be used both on the day and shortly after. You can also say Happy Chinese New Year in Chinese as ‘chun jie’, or spring festival, so you can also wish your friends a happy new year that way. So instead of saying xin nian kuai le for example, you would say chun jie (spring festival) kuai le (happy), which is roughly pronounced chwen jee-eh kwai le. And similarly, xin nian hao can become chun jie hao – pronounced chwen jee-eh how. ‘Guo nian hao’ can also be replaced with ‘guo jie hao’, pronounced gor jee-eh hao. This one can also be used for other festivals. Saying ‘gong hei fat choy’ is not the same as saying ‘Happy Chinese New Year’. Although the greeting is frequently offered at this time of the year, it actually delivers a wish for prosperity – you’re bestowing the wish that your recipient becomes wealthy in the year ahead. It’s very appropriate for those in business so it’s more frequently used when greeting your work colleagues or business partners during Chinese New Year. ‘Gong hei fat choy’ is the Cantonese way of saying the phrase and, in Mandarin Chinese, it’s ‘gong xi fa cai’ (pronounced gong she fa tsai). FYI, it’s not a hard and fast rule but Cantonese is generally spoken in Guangdong (formerly known as Canton) and surrounding areas, as well as Hong Kong. However, elsewhere in mainland China and Taiwan, Mandarin Chinese is generally spoken.
CHINESE NEW YEAR MANADARIN CANTONES GONG HEI FAT CHOY SPRING FESTIVAL CUN JIE
United Kingdom Latest News, United Kingdom Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
New Year's Eve Rain and Chilly New Year in Store for New EnglandNew Year's Eve will be dry with mild temperatures until midnight when showers begin and last through New Year's Day. A colder air mass moves in Wednesday bringing snow to northern New England. Strong winds expected Thursday combined with snow could cause power outages and damage. Lake-effect and ocean effect snow possible northwest and off the coast, but much of New England will see a dry, sunny, and chilly weekend. A potential storm next week could bring rain and snow to southern New England.
Read more »
Top 10 Chinese Restaurants in Lancashire to Celebrate Chinese New YearThis article highlights the top 10 Chinese restaurants in Lancashire according to TripAdvisor, perfect for celebrating Chinese New Year with delicious cuisine. The list features restaurants in Blackpool, known for its diverse food scene.
Read more »
Yorkshire's Top Chinese Restaurants Revealed for Chinese New Year CelebrationsYorkshire residents have voted for their favorite Chinese restaurants to mark Chinese New Year. Here are five top picks.
Read more »
The only two UK train stations that have tannoy announcements in Mandarin… and the reason why...How to say Happy New Year in Chinese
Read more »
Chinese New Year 2025 zodiac horoscopes as three signs could face difficult yearThe Year of the Snake is set to bring challenges for some Chinese zodiac signs
Read more »
Manchester's Spectacle: Chinese New Year 2025 Celebrates the Year of the SnakeManchester Chinatown bursts into life for Chinese New Year 2025 with a parade featuring a colossal dragon, acrobatic troupes, and a vibrant food market. Don't miss this celebration of culture and tradition.
Read more »