How do you say ‘Happy Chinese New Year’ in Chinese and Mandarin?
Chinese New Year, also referred to as Lunar New Year or the Spring Festival, is here. The date of this annual event shifts with the lunar calendar, and this year, the Year of the Wood Snake, the vibrant 15-day celebration kicks off on January 29.
The timing aligns with the New Moon, which occurs either in late January or February, marking the start of the festivities.
There are various ways to wish friends, family, colleagues, or acquaintances a Happy Chinese New Year. However, as with many languages, the greeting you choose will depend on who you're addressing and the context.
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Journalist, blogger, podcaster and author Qin Xie previously explained: "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 shortened 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 worries. The greeting 'guo nian hao' (pronounced 'gor nee-an how') – meaning 'spend a good year' – can be used both on the day itself and in the days following the celebration.
To wish someone a Happy Chinese New Year in Chinese, Qin Xie offers this explanation: "Chinese New Year is also known as 'chun jie,' or the Spring Festival. So, you can wish your friends a happy new year by using this term."
Instead of the common 'xin nian kuai le', you can say 'chun jie kuai le' (pronounced 'chwen jee-eh kwai le'), which translates to 'Happy Spring Festival'. Similarly, 'xin nian hao' can be replaced with 'chun jie hao' (pronounced 'chwen jee-eh how'), wishing someone a happy spring festival.
With these tips, you’re now ready to wish your friends and family a joyful Chinese New Year!
What does ‘gong hei fat choy’ mean?
While 'gong hei fat choy' is often used during Chinese New Year, it doesn't directly mean 'Happy Chinese New Year.'
Instead, the phrase is a wish for prosperity, specifically hoping that the recipient will become wealthy in the year to come. It's commonly used in business settings, making it a perfect greeting for work colleagues or business partners during the celebrations.
In Cantonese, the traditional Chinese New Year greeting is 'Gong hei fat choy', while in Mandarin, it’s 'Gong xi fa cai' (pronounced 'gong she fa tsai).
Though not a strict rule, Cantonese is primarily spoken in Guangdong (historically known as Canton) and surrounding regions, including Hong Kong. On the other hand, Mandarin is the dominant language in mainland China and Taiwan.
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