When we visit our relatives during Chinese New Year, the first thing we often do when we reach their homes is to greet them with auspicious wishes for the new year. There's no quicker way to brighten up their day and get those red packets (angbaos in Hokkien) piling up in your back pockets!
For all our westernised friends out there, here's a comprehensive list of greetings beyond gong xi fa cai and xin nian kuai le to impress your relatives this Chinese New Year. Who knows, these greetings might just earn you a big fat red packet!
Basic
Wishing you good health.
身体健康
(shēn tǐ jiàn kāng)
Intermediate
May all things go smoothly throughout the year.
万事如意
(wàn shì rú yì)
Advanced
Wishing you rapid success in your career.
飞黄腾达
(fēi huáng téng dá)
Zodiac
Wishing you fortune in the Year of the Rabbit!
兔年吉祥
(tù nián jí xiáng)
Hokkien
Happy New Year!
新年快乐
(sin ni kuai lok)
Teochew
Happy New Year!
新正如意
(sing jia ju yi)
Cantonese
Happy New Year!
新年快乐
(san nin fai lok)
Hainanese
Happy New Year!
新年快乐
(dian ni kuai lok)
Hakka
Happy New Year!
新年快乐
(si nian kuai lok)
年年有余
(nián nián yǒu yú)
Wishing you abundance for
the rest of the year.
大吉大利
(dà jí dà lì)
To have good prosperity,
fortune and luck.
心想事成
(xīn xiǎng shì chéng)
May all your wishes come true.
身体健康
(shēn tǐ jiàn kāng)
Wishing you good health.
万事如意
(wàn shì rú yì)
May all things go smoothly
throughout the year.
步步高升
(bù bù gāo shēng)
Wishing you continued
promotions in work.
一帆风顺
(yī fān fēng shùn)
Wishing you a smooth life ahead.
阖家幸福
(hé jiā xìng fú)
Bliss and happiness for the
entire family.
龙马精神
(lóng mǎ jīng shén)
To be filled with the vitality
of horses and dragons.
马到成功
(mǎ dào chéng gōng)
May you experience speedy
success in your career.
招财进宝
(zhāo cái jìn bǎo)
Bringing in wealth and treasures.
财源广进
(cái yuán guǎng jìn)
May you have much wealth.
吉祥如意
(jí xiáng rú yì)
Good fortune be upon you.
吉星高照
(jí xīng gāo zhào)
May the lucky star shine brightly for you.
飞黄腾达
(fēi huáng téng dá)
Wishing you rapid success in
your career.
大展宏图
(dà zhǎn hóng tú)
May your ambitions come true.
升官发财
(shēng guān fā cái)
Get a promotion at work and
make a fortune.
财源滚滚
(cái yuán gǔn gǔn)
For wealth to flow like a river into
your life.
兔年吉祥
(tù nián jí xiáng)
Wishing you fortune in the Rabbit Year
杨眉“兔”气
(yáng méi tù qì)
May you feel proud and elated in the new year.
*This is a homophonic version of the original idiom “扬眉吐气”.
“兔”飞猛进
(tù fēi měng jìn)
May you progress in your studies/career quickly.
*This is a homophonic version of the original idiom “突飞猛进”.
兔年大吉
(tù nián dà jí)
Wishing you luck in the Year of the Rabbit.
大展宏“兔”
(dà zhǎn hóng tù)
May you achieve your aspirations.
*This a homophonic version of the original idiom “大展宏图”.
兔来运转
(tù lái yùn zhuǎn)
Time for a lucky break and hope things change for the better.
新年快乐
(sin ni kuai lok)
Happy New Year!
身体健康
(sin teh kian kong)
Wishing you good health.
恭喜发财
(gheong hee huat cai)
Wishing you happiness and prosperity.
大吉大利
(dai kiat dai li)
Wishing you all things auspicious
and prosperous.
心想事成
(sim siu su xing)
May your dreams come true.
万事如意
(ban su ru yi)
Success in everything you do.
新年快乐
(sing jia ju yi)
Happy New Year!
身体健康
(sing ti gieng kang)
Wishing you good health.
恭喜发财
(giong hi huag cai)
Wishing you happiness and prosperity.
大吉大利
(dai gig dai li)
Wishing you all things auspicious
and prosperous.
心想事成
(sing xio si seng)
May your dreams come true.
万事如意
(bhuang se ru yi)
May all things go smoothly
throughout the year.
新年快乐
(san nin fai lok)
Happy New Year!
身体健康
(san tai gin hong)
Wishing you good health.
恭喜发财
(gong hei fatt choy)
Wishing you happiness and prosperity.
大吉大利
(dai khat dai lei)
Wishing you all things auspicious
and prosperous.
心想事成
(sum siong see seng)
May your dreams come true.
万事如意
(man si yu yee)
May all things go smoothly
throughout the year.
新年快乐
(dian ni kuai lok)
Happy New Year!
身体健康
(din hi gin hang)
Wishing you good health.
恭喜发财
(kong yee wat sai)
Wishing you happiness and prosperity.
大吉大利
(dai kiat dai li)
Wishing you all things auspicious
and prosperous.
心想事成
(dim tio xie jia)
May your dreams come true.
万事如意
(ban sey lu yi)
May all things go smoothly
throughout the year.
新年快乐
(si nian kuai lok)
Happy New Year!
身体健康
(xin ti gin hong)
Wishing you good health.
恭喜发财
(giong hi fatt choy)
Wishing you happiness and prosperity.
大吉大利
(tai kit tai li)
Wishing you all things auspicious
and prosperous.
心想事成
(sim xiong si sin)
May your dreams come true.
万事如意
(wan shi yi yi)
May all things go smoothly
throughout the year.