Chinese New Year greetings & wishes in Chinese 拜年话
bàinián huà
Happy New Year in Chinese is 新年快乐 (xīn nián kuài lè).
Also searched for as: Happy Chinese New Year in Chinese, Gong Xi Fa Cai, Lunar New Year greetings, Chinese New Year wishes, how to say Happy New Year in Chinese.
What to say when you wish someone a happy New Year. 15 words and phrases for Chinese New Year greetings & wishes in Mandarin Chinese, with pinyin and English. Open it in the app to hear each word, tick off the ones you know and turn them into flashcards.
The basic way to say Happy New Year in Chinese is 新年快乐 (xīn nián kuài lè), but at Chinese New Year people go much further with 拜年话 (bài nián huà), strings of four-character wishes. 过年好 (guò nián hǎo) is the friendly everyday greeting, 恭喜发财 (gōng xǐ fā cái) wishes prosperity, and 身体健康 (shēn tǐ jiàn kāng) is the classic wish for older relatives. Knowing which to use for whom makes a real impression.
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 新年快乐 | xīn nián kuài lè | Happy New Year |
| 春节快乐 | chūn jié kuài lè | Happy Spring Festival |
| 过年好 | guò nián hǎo | Happy New Year (casual greeting) |
| 恭喜发财 | gōng xǐ fā cái | wishing you prosperity |
| 万事如意 | wàn shì rú yì | may everything go as you wish |
| 身体健康 | shēn tǐ jiàn kāng | good health |
| 年年有余 | nián nián yǒu yú | may you have plenty every year |
| 心想事成 | xīn xiǎng shì chéng | may all your wishes come true |
| 大吉大利 | dà jí dà lì | great luck and fortune |
| 阖家欢乐 | hé jiā huān lè | happiness to the whole family |
| 步步高升 | bù bù gāo shēng | to keep moving up (in your career) |
| 学业进步 | xué yè jìn bù | success in your studies |
| 拜年 | bài nián | to give New Year greetings; to pay a New Year visit |
| 给您拜年了 | gěi nín bài nián le | Happy New Year to you (respectful) |
| 同乐 | tóng lè | same to you (reply to festive wishes) |
Usage tips
- Match the wish to the person: 身体健康 (shēn tǐ jiàn kāng) for grandparents, 步步高升 (bù bù gāo shēng) for working adults, 学业进步 (xué yè jìn bù) for students and 阖家欢乐 (hé jiā huān lè) for a whole family.
- Chain your wishes after 祝你 or the polite 祝您 (zhù nín), as in 祝您新年快乐，身体健康，万事如意！ Stacking two or three four-character phrases sounds generous rather than over the top.
- 恭喜发财 is so closely tied to red envelopes that children jokingly follow it with 红包拿来 (hóng bāo ná lái), "hand over the red envelope"; in Cantonese-speaking communities you'll hear it as "gung hei fat choi".
Common mistakes
- Saying 春节快乐 on 1 January → 春节 (chūn jié) is only the lunar New Year; for 1 January say 新年快乐 (xīn nián kuài lè) or 元旦快乐 (yuán dàn kuài lè).
- Saying 给你拜年了 to older relatives or teachers → use the respectful form with 您: 给您拜年了 (gěi nín bài nián le).
Mini dialogue
- A王阿姨，过年好！给您拜年了！Wáng ā yí, guò nián hǎo! Gěi nín bài nián le!Happy New Year, Auntie Wang! New Year greetings to you!
- B过年好，过年好！快进来坐。Guò nián hǎo, guò nián hǎo! Kuài jìn lái zuò.Happy New Year! Come on in and sit down.
- A祝您身体健康，万事如意！Zhù nín shēn tǐ jiàn kāng, wàn shì rú yì!Wishing you good health and everything you hope for!
- B谢谢！也祝你学业进步，心想事成！Xiè xie! Yě zhù nǐ xué yè jìn bù, xīn xiǎng shì chéng!Thank you! And I hope your studies go well and all your wishes come true!
Example sentences
- 爷爷奶奶，新年快乐！Grandma, Grandpa, Happy New Year!
- 祝大家春节快乐！Happy Spring Festival, everyone!
- 阿姨，叔叔，过年好！Happy New Year, auntie and uncle!
- 恭喜发财，红包拿来！Wishing you prosperity, now hand over the red envelope!
- 祝您新的一年万事如意！May everything go your way in the new year!
- 祝爷爷奶奶身体健康！Wishing Grandma and Grandpa good health!
- 祝你们家年年有余！May your family have plenty every year!
- 新的一年，祝你心想事成！In the new year, may all your wishes come true!
- 祝大家新年大吉大利！Wishing everyone great luck in the New Year!
- 祝您阖家欢乐！Wishing happiness to your whole family!
- 祝你工作顺利，步步高升！Hope work goes well and you keep getting promoted!
- 祝你新的一年学业进步！Wishing you success in your studies this year!
- 初一我们去亲戚家拜年。On the first day we go and wish our relatives a happy New Year.
- 王老师，给您拜年了！Happy New Year to you, Mr Wang!
- 他说新年快乐，我说同乐同乐！He said "Happy New Year" and I said "Same to you!"
Practise speaking
Ready to use these words? The Chinese New Year greetings & wishes speaking island has 8 everyday questions about Chinese New Year greetings & wishes to prepare your own answers to.