On this page, we've got the top ways to say "Happy Chinese New Year" in Chinese and Cantonese which you will use during the Chinese New Year period, which is from Chinese New Year's day (Feb 1, 2022) up to the 15th day of the Chinese New Year(Feb 15, 2022).
As 2022 is a year of the Tiger, we've also prepared popular greetings with Tiger symbolism to help you wish a happy New Year to your friends.
3 Ways to Say "Happy Chinese New Year" in Chinese and Cantonese
In Mandarin, the most common way to wish your family and close friends a happy Chinese New Year is "Xīnnián hǎo" (新年好), literally meaning 'New Year Goodness' or 'Good New Year'. Another way to say "Happy Chinese New Year" is "Xīnnián kuàilè" (新年快乐), literally meaning 'New Year happiness'. It is a formal greeting typically used for strangers.
In Cantonese, the common way to say 'Happy Lunar New Year' is "Gong hei fat choy" (恭喜发财), which means 'Wishing you happiness and prosperity.'
1. 新年好 — 'New Year Goodness' (popular way)
- In Mandarin: xīn nián hǎo /sshin-nyen haoww/
- In Cantonese: san nin hou
2. 新年快乐 — 'New Year happiness' (formal way)
- In Mandarin: xīn nián kuài lè /sshin-nyen kwhy-ler/
- In Cantonese: sun nin fai lok
3. 恭喜发财 — 'Happiness and prosperity' (in Mandarin)
- In Mandarin: gōng xǐ fā cái /gong-sshee faa-tseye/
- In Cantonese: gong hay fat choy
3 Most Popular Chinese New Year Greeting Phrases
Usually, you only have to greet people like this the first time you see them in the new Chinese calendar year, and after that, you can return to normal Chinese greetings (e.g. Nihǎo).
1. 大吉大利 — Lots of luck and profits!
- In Mandarin: dà jí dà lì /daa-jee daa-lee /
- In Cantonese: dai gut dai lei
2. 万事如意 — May all go well with you!
- In Mandarin: wàn shì rú yì /wann-shrr roo-ee/
- In Cantonese: mahn si yuh yi
3. 步步高升 — Step-by-step high promotion (Promoting to a higher position)
- In Mandarin: bùbù gāoshēng /boo-boo gaoww-shnng/
- In Cantonese: /boh-boh goh-sshin/
Click to see more Chinese New Year greetings and wishes.
How to Wish Someone Happy Chinese New Year 2022
As 2022 will be a year of the Tiger, you could wish your friends a Happy Tiger Year with the below lucky phrases!
1. 虎年大吉 — Wishing you luck in the year of the Tiger!
- In Mandarin: hǔ nián dà jí /hoo-nyen daa-jee/
- In Cantonese: fu nin dai gat
2. 虎虎生威 — Wishing you fullness of the vigor and vitality of the tiger.
- In Mandarin: Hǔ hǔ shēng wēi /hoo-hoo shnng-way/
- In Cantonese: fu fu sang wai
3. 龙腾虎跃 — 'Dragon soaring and Tiger leaping' (Wish you prosperous and thriving in new year)
- In Mandarin: lóng téng hǔ yuè /long tnng hoo yhwere/
- In Cantonese: lung tang fu joek
4. 如虎添翼 — Wishing you're like a tiger with wings (i.e. doubly strong)!
- In Mandarin: rú hǔ tiān yì /roo hoo tyen ee/
- In Cantonese: jyu fu tim jik
5. 虎年兴旺 — Wishing you a prosperous year of the Tiger!
- In Mandarin: hǔ nián xīng wàng /hoo nyen sshing wung/
- In Cantonese: fu nin hing wong
6. 生龙活虎 — Wishing you the drive of the Dragon and the vigor of the Tiger!
- In Mandarin: shēng lóng huó hǔ /shnng long hwor hoo/
- In Cantonese: sang lung wut fu
7. 虎运连年 — Wishing you the luck of the Tiger year after year!
- In Mandarin: hǔ yùn lián nián /hoo ywnn lyen nyen/
- In Cantonese: fu wan lin nin
How Do You Respond to "Happy Chinese New Year"?
When someone greets you with "新年快乐 (Xīnnián kuàilè, Happy New Year)", the best and simple replies are:
1. "新年快乐 (Xīnnián kuàilè)"
2. "Happy New Year to you too, thank you"
3. Thank you, and wish you the same.
How to Write 'Happy Chinese New Year' in Chinese?
Want to write a New Year's card to your friends in China? Here's how you can write "happy Chinese New Year" in Chinese, stroke by stroke.
"Happy New Year"is written "新年快乐"in simplified Chinese characters.
The character for 'New'(新Xīn /sshin/) comes first:
The second, 年(Nián /nyen/) is the character for 'Year':
The last two characters快乐(kuàilè /kwhy-luh/) together mean 'happy'. On its own, the Chinese character 快(kuài) can mean 'fast':
The last character is 乐 (lè):
And there you have it!
