8 Auspicious Chinese New Year Greetings

新年快乐 (XĪN NIÁN KUÀI LÈ)
HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR

This familiar greeting is most commonly used during the Chinese New Year . It means “Happy New Year” and it is also widely used on the first of January to wish someone great happiness and prosperity for the whole year!

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恭喜发财 (GŌNG XǏ FĀ CÁI)
WISHING YOU PROSPERITY AND GOOD FORTUNE

Gōng xǐ fā cái has become one of the most recognizable Chinese New Year greetings. Growing up in Singapore, we hear this phrase everywhere we go during this festive season! You may also hear “kung hei fat choy”, the same greeting in Cantonese.

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年年有余 (NIÁN NIÁN YǑU YÚ)
SURPLUS AND ABUNDANCE YEAR AFTER YEAR

This common phrase is a wish for abundance or surplus every year. The word for abundance also sounds like the word for fish; hence, the Chinese will always make two fishes for their Chinese New Year’s Eve dinner and save one as a leftover for the next day (the surplus for the year!).

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大吉大利 (DÀ JÍ DÀ LÌ)
GOOD LUCK AND BIG PROFIT

This particular greeting is growing quite popular and is great for anyone who is money-focused! It is also highly suitable for business-owning individuals because what is better than a wish of good luck and more money for them? So you may say: “Wishing you good luck and prosperity in the Year of the Dragon!”

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身体健康 (SHĒN TǏ JIÀN KĀNG)
GOOD HEALTH

Health is an important wish which is why this is the go-to greeting for anyone, young or old! Feel free to wish your loved ones, friends and colleagues by saying: “I wish all of you good health and the best of success in all your endeavours”.

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万事如意 (WÀN SHÌ RÚ YÌ)
MAY ALL GO WELL WITH YOU

A sweet wish for all of someone’s dreams to come true! Go ahead and wish someone “心想事成, 万事如意” (xīn xiǎng shì chéng, wàn shì rú yì) this coming Chinese New Year, which means “May all your wishes come true and go well with you”!

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吉祥如意 (JÍ XIÁNG RÚ YÌ)
GOOD LUCK AND FORTUNE BE ACCORDING TO YOUR WISHES

A greeting to wish someone or a group of people good fortune as one wishes. Go ahead and wish your colleagues: “祝你在新的一年里吉祥如意，心想事成” (zhù nǐ zài xīn de yī nián lǐ jí xiáng rú yì，xīn xiǎng shì chéng)! You will surely receive plenty of smiles from them because you are wishing them luck, wealth and success in the coming year!

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学业有成 (XUÉ YÈ YǑU CHÉNG) or 学业进步 (XUÉ YÈ JÌN BÙ)
ACADEMIC SUCCESS OR ACADEMIC PROGRESS

Students, you may hear this from your parents, grandparents, and relatives! So recognise this meaningful wish and fire back with some happy new year and good health greetings back at them, such as the ones listed above.