Chinese New Year Greetings

During the lunar New Year, people usually say a few auspicious words when they meet.

Popular Greetings for the New Year

新年快乐。
Happy New Year.（Basic greeting for all occasions during the Spring Festival.）
Mandarin: xīn nián kuài lè

Cantonese: San Nin Fai Lok

恭喜发财。
Wishing you enlarge your wealth. (It is generally used as Happy New Year. The most classic greeting in southern China, such as Hong Kong, Guangdong and its surrounding areas.)
Mandarin: gōng xǐ fā cái

Cantonese: kung hei fat choi

大吉大利。
Good luck.
Mandarin: dà jí dà lì

Cantonese: Daai Gik Daai Lei

祝你在新的一年里一帆风顺, 平安幸福。
Wish you success, peace and happiness in the New Year.
Mandarin: zhù nǐ zài xīn de yì nián lǐ yì fān fēng shùn, pīng ān xìng fú

Cantonese: Zuk Nei Joi San Dik Jat Nin Lei Jat Faan Fung Seun, Ping On Hang Fuk

恭贺新禧，万事如意。
Happy New Year, wish you best of everything.
Mandarin: gōng hè xīn xǐ, wàn shì rú yì

Cantonese: Gung Ho San Hei, Maan Si Yu Yi

在新的一年里，祝您和您的家人身体健康，年年有余，生活蒸蒸日上。
May the New Year bring you and your family good health, wealth and prosperity.
Mandarin: zài xīn dě yì nián lǐ, zhù nín hé nín dě jiā rén shēn tǐ jiàn kāng, niān niān yǒu yú, shēng huó zhēng zhēng rì shàng

Cantonese: Joi San Dik Jat Nin Lei, Zuk Nei Wo Nei Dik Gaa Jan San Tai Gin Hong, Nin Nin Yau Jyu, Sang Wood Jing Jing Jat Seung

祝你在新的一年里快快乐乐,喜气洋洋。
Wish you a Chinese New Year filled with joy and celebration.
Mandarin: zhù nǐ zài xīn dě yì nián lǐ kuài kuài lè lè, xǐ qì yáng yáng

Cantonese: Zuk Nei Joi San Dik Jat Nin Lei Fai Fai Lok Lok, Hei Hei Yeung Yeung

祝你龙马精神。
May you be as energetic as a dragon and horse.（2026 is the Year of the Horse, this greeting is especially popular for the 2026 Lunar New Year.）
Mandarin: zhù nǐ lóng mǎ jīng shén

Cantonese: Zuk Nei Lung Ma Jing San

岁岁平安。
Hope you stay safe and sound all year round.
Mandarin: suì suì píng ān

Cantonese: Seoi Seoi Ping On

新年新气象。
As New Year begins, let us have a fresh start.
Mandarin: xīn nián xīn qì xiàng

Cantonese: San Nin San Hei Zeong

愿你幸福快乐，直到永远。
May joy and health always be with you.
Mandarin: yuàn nǐ xìng fú kuài lè, zhí dào yǒng yuǎn

Cantonese: Yun Nei Hang Fuk Fai Lok, Zik Dou Wing Yun

Greetings for friends and business partner

祝你财源广进，平平安安。
Wish you an abundance of good fortune and a year filled with serenity.
Mandarin: zhù nǐ cái yuán guǎng jīn, pīng pīng ān ān

Cantonese: Zuk Nei Choi Yun Gwong Zeon, Ping Ping On On

步步高升。
Have promotion every step.
Mandarin: bù bù gāo shēng

Cantonese: Buk Buk Gou Sing

马到成功。
Hope you will be successful immediately.
Mandarin: mǎ dào chéng gōng

Cantonese: Ma Dou Sing Gung

心想事成。
May all your wishes come true.
Mandarin: xīn xiǎng shì chéng

Cantonese: Sam Seung Si Sing

愿你鹏程万里。
Wish you a bright future.
Mandarin: yuàn nǐ péng chéng wàn lǐ

Cantonese: Yun Nei Pang Sing Maan Lei

Greetings for elders

福寿安康。
Wish you longevity and health.
Mandarin: fú shòu ān kāng

Cantonese: Fuk Sau On Hong

寿比南山。
May you live a long and happy life.
Mandarin: shòu bǐ nán shān

Cantonese: Sau Bei Naam Saan

Greetings for children

前程似锦。
Have a bright future.
Mandarin: qián chéng sì jǐn

Cantonese: Cin Cing Si Gam

学业进步。
May you make progress in study.
Mandarin: xué yè jìn bù

Cantonese: Hok Jip Zeon Bou

学有所成。
Gain great accomplishment.
Mandarin: xué yǒu suǒ chéng

Cantonese: Hok Yau So Sing

健康成长。
Hope you are bouncing with health.
Mandarin: jiàn kāng chéng zhǎng

Cantonese: Gin Hong Sing Zoeng

百尺竿头，更进一步。
Wish you make still further progress.
Mandarin: bǎi chǐ gān tóu, gèng jìn yí bù

Cantonese: Baak Cek Gon Tau, Gang Zeon Jat Bou

Chinese Zodiac Year Greetings

Chinese zodiac is the core of traditional lunar year culture, and zodiac-specific greetings are far more personalized than generic New Year wishes. Many zodiac greetings rely on Chinese homophony (word sound similarities), a fun linguistic feature you’ll encounter in every corner of China.

Rat (Shǔ) | 鼠

Core Greeting: 聪明伶俐
Wishing you sharp wit and quick intelligence. (Perfect for kids and students.)
Mandarin: Cōng Míng Líng Lì

Cantonese: Cung Ming Ling Lei

Ox (Niú) | 牛

Core Greeting: 牛气冲天
Wishing you unstoppable momentum and great success.
Mandarin: Niú Qì Chōng Tiān

Cantonese: Ngau Hei Cung Tin

Tiger (Hǔ) | 虎

Core Greeting: 虎虎生威
May you be as dynamic and powerful as a tiger.
Mandarin: Hǔ Hǔ Shēng Wēi

Cantonese: Fu Fu Saang Wai

Rabbit (Tù) | 兔

Core Greeting: 前途似锦
Wishing you a bright and prosperous future.
Mandarin: Qián Tú Sì Jǐn

Cantonese: Cin Tou Si Gam

Dragon (Lóng) | 龙

Core Greeting: 龙腾四海
May you soar to great heights like a dragon across the sea. (A powerful universal blessing for temple fairs and dragon dance events. Besides, "龙马精神" is also a core blessing for the Year of the Dragon.)
Mandarin: Lóng Téng Sì Hǎi

Cantonese: Lung Tang Sei Hoi

Snake (Shé) | 蛇

Core Greeting: 蛇年大吉
Wishing you an auspicious and prosperous Year of the Snake.
Mandarin: Shé Nián Dà Jí

Cantonese: Se Nin Daai Gik

Horse (Mǎ) | 马

Core Greeting: 一马当先
Wishing you to take the lead and achieve great things. ("龙马精神" and "马到成功" try are also common blessings for the Year of the Horse.)
Mandarin: Yī Mǎ Dāng Xiān

Cantonese: Jat Ma Dong Sin

Goat/Sheep (Yáng) | 羊

Core Greeting: 三阳开泰
Wishing you new beginnings and great prosperity. (A poetic blessing for the elders in northern China, such as Beijing and Shaanxi.)
Mandarin: Sān Yáng Kāi Tài

Cantonese: Saam Joeng Hoi Taai

Monkey (Hóu) | 猴

Core Greeting: 鸿运当头
May great luck befall you. (A lively blessing for tourists celebrating the Lunar New Year, especially when visiting temples or embarking on a new journey.)
Mandarin: Hóng Yùn Dāng Tóu

Cantonese: Wang Wan Dong Tau

Rooster (Jī) | 鸡

Core Greeting: 吉星高照
May lucky stars shine brightly upon you.
Mandarin: Jí Xīng Gāo Zhào

Cantonese: Gat Sing Gou Jiu

Dog (Gǒu) | 狗

Core Greeting: 事业兴旺
Wishing your career or business prosperity and growth.
Mandarin: Shì Yè Xīng Wàng

Cantonese: Si Jip Hing Wong

Pig (Zhū) | 猪

Core Greeting: 诸事顺利
May all your affairs go smoothly and effortlessly.
Mandarin: Zhū Shì Shùn Lì

Cantonese: Zyu Si Seun Lei

Exchanging New Year greetings is a way to connect emotionally, pass on culture and place sincere wishes for the future. It endows the New Year with deeper meaning and lets people feel warmth and strength in each other's blessings.

Join our 5-Day Huangshan Spring Festival Tour and walk through ancient villages such as Hongcun and Nanping, listen to the locals exchanging New Year greetings, interact with them and learn the festive phrases commonly used here. You can also climb Huangshan Mountain to admire the breathtaking sea of clouds and experience traditional folk activities like fish lantern making. China Educational Tours provides customized services for you, and you are welcome to contact us anytime.

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