Lunar New Year brings both joy and a hint of anxiety to many of us when it comes to expressing our well-wishes in Chinese. It can be a bit embarrassing, especially for the little ones, especially when they can't find the right words during family reunions or festive gatherings. But don't worry! With the right Lunar New Year greetings, you can save them from awkward moments and impress the elders with their cultural awareness and language skills. Here's a list of 18 greetings and wishes to help your little ones share the joy and prosperity of the New Year in their own unique style! Check it out!
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In this blog post, we've compiled a list of 18 Lunar New Year Greetings and Wishes, available in both English and Chinese (Traditional, Simplified, Pinyin, and Jyutping). We also have audio recordings in Mandarin and Cantonese.
Just a fun fact, I chose the number for a reason, because in Chinese, the number 十八 (18) sounds like “實發” meaning “Will get rich!”. The number 18 is considered auspicious as it is associated with prosperity, wealth, and success – making it a fitting number for this compilation of New Year greetings to wish your loved ones a prosperous year ahead.
How Do You Give Lunar New Year Greetings?
When giving a greeting, you begin by saying 《祝你》which means “wishing you”, followed by your chosen greeting.
- Traditional Chinese: 祝你
- Simplified Chinese: 祝你
- English: Wishing you
Cantonese (Zuk1 nei5)
Mandarin (Zhù nǐ)
For example, if you want to say “Happy New Year”, you would say 祝你新年快樂 (zhù nǐ xīn nián kuài lè).
18 Lunar New Year Greetings and Wishes
Before we dive into the details of when and how to greet you during Lunar New Year, I've got something special for you! Here are 18 traditional Lunar New Year Greetings and Wishes that radiate prosperity, good health, and happiness. Feel free to personalize them to fit your unique bond with the person you're talking to, adding that personal touch that makes all the difference. Let's spread joy together!
We have divided the 18 Lunar New Year Greetings into 4 categories:
- Common Greetings
- Dragon Year Greetings
- Prosperity and Well-Being Wishes
- Career and Success Hopes
Common Lunar New Year Greeting
Lunar New Year greetings are all about sharing well-wishes and blessings and embracing the cultural significance and traditional values of this special occasion. It's a time to come together and celebrate, spreading warmth and joy to everyone around.
If you want to make it super simple, just remember these three phrases and you'll be all set to greet everyone during Lunar New Year!
- 新年快樂 | Happy New Year
- 恭喜發財 | May you be happy and prosperous
- 萬事如意 | Wishing you all the best
1. 新年快樂 | Happy New year
- Traditional Chinese: 新年快樂
- Simplified Chinese: 新年快乐
- English: Happy New Year
Cantonese (San1 nin4 faai3 lok6)
Mandarin (Xīn nián kuài lè)
This is the most common greeting during Lunar New Year. You can use it with anyone: your family, friends, colleagues, or even strangers on the street.
2. 恭喜發財 | May you be happy and prosperous
- Traditional Chinese: 恭喜發財
- Simplified Chinese: 恭喜发财
- English: May you be happy and prosperous
Cantonese (Gung1 hei2 faat3 coi4)
Mandarin (Gōng xǐ fā cái)
This greeting is often used to wish someone good luck and prosperity in the year ahead. It's a popular phrase for business visits or exchanges, as it implies well wishes for success and wealth.
3. 萬事如意 | Wishing you all the best
- Traditional Chinese: 萬事如意
- Simplified Chinese: 万事如意
- English: Wishing you all the best
Cantonese (Maan6 si6 jyu4 ji3)
Mandarin (Wàn shì rú yì)
This is another common greeting used during Lunar New Year, particularly among friends and relatives. It expresses the hope for everything to go smoothly and according to one's wishes in the upcoming year.
Lunar New Year Greetings for the Dragon Year
In Chinese culture, each year is associated with a zodiac animal and 2024 will be the Year of the Dragon.
In addition to being a symbol of success and prosperity, dragons also represent strength, power, and nobility. It is believed that having a dragon in your life or workplace can help boost morale and bring success. This is why dragons are often incorporated into Chinese architecture, art, and cultural traditions.
Dragons represent success, prosperity, strength, power, and nobility.
Overall, dragons hold a special place in Chinese culture and are viewed as an important symbol of good luck, prosperity, and strength. So whether it's for a couple starting their new life together or someone chasing after their business dreams, wishing them “龍神保佑” or “龍騰虎跳” is a way to show your support and well wishes for their journey ahead.
Learn more about dragons from China Highlights.
Here are some specific greetings that you can use during Lunar New Year:
- 龍馬精神 | Wishing you vigor and vitality like a dragon and a horse
- 龍年大吉 | Wishing you great luck in the Year of the Dragon
- 龍鳳呈祥 | Wishing you a harmonious relationship like the dragon and phoenix
- 龍神保佑 | May the Dragon God bless you
- 龍騰虎跳 | May your business flourish
4. 龍馬精神 | Wishing you vigor and vitality like a dragon and a horse
- Traditional Chinese: 龍馬精神
- Simplified Chinese: 龙马精神
- English: Wishing you vigor and vitality like a dragon and a horse
Cantonese (Lung4 maa5 zing1 san4)
Mandarin (Lóng mǎ jīng shén)
This greeting is often used to express the wish for someone to have a strong and energetic year, just like the powerful dragon and swift horse.
5. 龍年大吉 | Wishing you great luck in the Year of the Dragon
- Traditional Chinese: 龍年大吉
- Simplified Chinese: 龙年大吉
- English: Wishing you great luck in the Year of the Dragon
Cantonese (Lung4 nin4 daai6 gat1)
Mandarin (Lóng nián dà jí)
This greeting specifically references the zodiac animal for the year, the dragon, and expresses the hope for good fortune in all aspects of life.
6. 龍鳳呈祥 | Wishing you a harmonious relationship like the dragon and phoenix
- Traditional Chinese: 龍鳳呈祥
- Simplified Chinese: 龙凤呈祥
- English: Wishing you a harmonious relationship like the dragon and phoenix
Cantonese (Lung4 fung6 cing4 coeng4)
Mandarin (Lóng fèng chéng xiáng)
This greeting is often used for couples or newlyweds, as the dragon and phoenix are symbols of a happy marriage and harmony.
7. 龍神保佑 | May the Dragon God bless you
- Traditional Chinese: 龍神保佑
- Simplified Chinese: 龙神保佑
- English: May the Dragon God bless you
Cantonese (Lung4 san4 bou2 jau6)
Mandarin (Lóng shén bǎo yòu)
This greeting is a wish for protection and blessings from the powerful dragon deity, often used for new beginnings or important ventures.
8. 龍騰虎跳 | May your business flourish
- Traditional Chinese: 龍騰虎跳
- Simplified Chinese: 龙腾虎跳
- English: May your business flourish
Cantonese (Lung4 tang4 fu2 tiu3)
Mandarin (Lóng téng hǔ tiào)
This greeting uses the imagery of a dragon and tiger, two powerful animals associated with success and prosperity, to wish for business success. In Chinese culture, dragons are often seen as an auspicious symbol for business ventures and entrepreneurship, as they are believed to bring good luck and fortune. The phrase “龍騰虎跳” is commonly used when wishing someone success in their business endeavors.
Lunar New Year Greetings and Wishes for Prosperity and Well-Being Wishes
Lunar New Year is all about traditional greetings and well-wishes that emphasize prosperity, well-being, and family togetherness. We often say things like “May you have abundance every year” and “Wishing you a happy and healthy family reunion”.
Here are the greetings reflect the values we cherish in Chinese culture, symbolizing renewal, abundance, and shared happiness:
- 身體健康 | Wishing you good health
- 年年有餘 | Wishing you abundance every year
- 合家團圓 | Wishing for a happy family reunion
- 心想事成 | Wishing your dreams come true
- 開心快樂 | Wishing you Joy and Happiness
- 笑口常開 | Wishing for a constant smile on one's face
9. 身體健康 | Wishing you good health
- Traditional Chinese: 身體健康
- Simplified Chinese: 身体健康
- English: Wishing you good health
Cantonese (San1 tai2 gin6 hong1)
Mandarin (Shēn tǐ jiàn kāng)
This is another common greeting used during Lunar New Year, especially when visiting family and friends. It expresses the wish for the recipient to have good health for the year ahead.
10. 年年有餘 | Wishing you abundance every year
Traditional Chinese: 年年有餘
- Simplified Chinese: 年年有余
- English: Wishing you abundance every year
Cantonese (Nin4 nin4 jau5 yu4)
Mandarin (Nián nián yǒu yú)
This greeting is often used to wish someone wealth and abundance in the coming year. It's a way of expressing hope for continued prosperity and success.
11. 合家團圓 | Wishing for a happy family reunion
- Traditional Chinese: 合家團圓
- Simplified Chinese: 合家团圆
- English: Wishing for a happy family reunion
Cantonese (Hap6 gaa1 tyun4 jyun4)
Mandarin (Hé jiā tuán yuán)
This greeting is often used to express the importance of family and spending time together during Lunar New Year. It conveys the wish for all family members to gather, enjoy each other's company, and have a happy and harmonious year ahead.
12. 心想事成 | Wishing your dreams come true
- Traditional Chinese: 心想事成
- Simplified Chinese: 心想事成
- English: Wishing your dreams come true
Cantonese (Sam1 soeng2 si6 sing4)
Mandarin (Xīn xiǎng shì chéng)
This greeting is often used to express the hope for all of one's wishes and dreams to come true in the new year. It can also be interpreted as wishing someone success and fulfillment in their endeavors.
13. 開心快樂 | Wishing you Joy and Happiness
- Traditional Chinese: 開心快樂
- Simplified Chinese: 开心快乐
- English: Wishing you Joy and Happiness
Cantonese (Hoi1 sam1 faai3 lok6)
Mandarin (Kāi xīn kuài lè)
Pinyin:
This greeting is often used to express the desire for someone to have a happy and joyful year ahead. It conveys the wish for positive emotions, good health, and overall happiness in the new year.
14. 笑口常開 | Wishing for a constant smile on one's face
- Traditional Chinese: 笑口常開
- Simplified Chinese: 笑口常开
- English: Wishing for a constant smile on one's face
Cantonese (Siu3 hau2 soeng4 hoi1)
Mandarin (Xiào kǒu cháng kāi)
This greeting conveys the wish for happiness and joy to always be present in someone's life. It is a hope for an optimistic outlook in the new year. May your smile never fade and may you always find reasons to laugh and be happy.
Lunar New Year Greetings and Wishes for Career and Success Hopes
During Lunar New Year, there are also greetings and wishes specifically related to career and success.
These well-wishes convey the hope for prosperity and growth in one's professional life:
- 事業有成 | Wishing for a successful career
- 步步高升 | Wishing for continuous promotion and advancement
- 財源滾滾 | Wishing for abundant wealth and prosperity
- 財源廣進 | Wishing for wealth to come from all directions
15.事業有成 | Wishing for a successful career
- Traditional Chinese: 事業有成
- Simplified Chinese: 事业有成
- English: Wishing for a successful career
Cantonese (Si6 jip6 jau5 sing4)
Mandarin (Shì yè yǒu chéng)
This greeting is often used to express the hope for someone's career to flourish and be successful in the new year. It conveys the wish for professional achievements and accomplishments.
16. 步步高升 | Wishing for Continuous Promotion and advancement
- Traditional Chinese: 步步高升
- Simplified Chinese: 步步高升
- English: Wishing for continuous promotion and advancement
Cantonese (Bou6 bou6 gou1 sing1)
Mandarin (Bù bù gāo shēng)
This greeting conveys the hope for someone's career to continuously progress and advance in the new year. It is a wish for constant growth and success in one's professional life.
17. 財源滾滾 | Wishing for abundant wealth and prosperity
- Traditional Chinese: 財源滾滾
- Simplified Chinese: 财源滚滚
- English: Wishing for abundant wealth and prosperity
Cantonese (Coi4 jyun4 gwan2 gwan2)
Mandarin (Cái yuán gǔn gǔn)
This greeting expresses the wish for someone's financial prosperity and abundance in the new year. It is a hope for wealth and success in business or career endeavors.
18. 財源廣進 | Wishing for wealth to come from all directions
- Traditional Chinese: 財源廣進
- Simplified Chinese: 财源广进
- English: Wishing for wealth to come from all directions
Cantonese (Coi4 jyun4 gwong2 zeon3)
Mandarin (Cái yuán guǎng jìn)
This greeting conveys the hope for success and prosperity to come from various opportunities and sources in the new year. It is a wish for abundance and financial stability.
Other Lunar New Year Resources:
Conclusion
These Lunar New Year greetings are filled with good wishes, from achievements and career growth to financial prosperity and abundance. Each phrase has a special meaning and is an important part of the Lunar New Year celebrations. By understanding their meanings and contexts, we can share the spirit of hope, prosperity, and success that each message brings for the year ahead. 祝大家新年快樂，開開心心！ Wishing you all a happy new year and happiness!
