How to Say Happy New Year in Chinese
Learn how to say Happy New Year in Chinese. 'Xīnnián kuàilè' works for any new year; 'Gōngxǐ fācái' wishes prosperity at Lunar New Year. Pinyin, tones, and customs.
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Quick answer
To say Happy New Year in Chinese, say '新年快乐' (Xīnnián kuàilè, shin-nyen kwai-luh), meaning 'Happy New Year' — usable for both January 1st and Lunar New Year. For Lunar New Year specifically, '恭喜发财' (Gōngxǐ fācái) wishes wealth and prosperity. Pair them as 'Xīnnián kuàilè, gōngxǐ fācái!' for a warm, traditional greeting.
新年快乐
/shin-nyen kwai-luh/ — Chinese
How to Say Happy New Year in Chinese
Chinese new year greetings come in two flavors: a simple all-purpose “Happy New Year” and a rich set of prosperity wishes tied to the Lunar New Year (Spring Festival). Learn the core phrase and one or two festive add-ons, and you will be ready for both January 1st and the most important holiday in the Chinese calendar.
The All-Purpose Phrase: Xīnnián kuàilè
新年快乐 (Xīnnián kuàilè) — pronounced shin-nyen kwai-luh — means “Happy New Year.” It works for both the Western new year and the Lunar New Year, across Mandarin-speaking China, Taiwan, and Chinese communities everywhere.
- 新 (xīn) = new
- 年 (nián) = year
- 快乐 (kuàilè) = happy / joyful
So word for word: “new year, happy.”
The Tones
| Character | Pinyin | Tone | Sound |
|---|---|---|---|
| 新 | xīn | 1st (high flat) | shin |
| 年 | nián | 2nd (rising) | nyen |
| 快 | kuài | 4th (falling) | kwai |
| 乐 | lè | 4th (falling) | luh |
Native speakers will understand “shin-nyen kwai-luh” even if your tones are imperfect, but aiming for high–rise–fall–fall makes it sound polished.
The Festive Prosperity Wish: Gōngxǐ fācái
At Lunar New Year, the most iconic greeting is 恭喜发财 (Gōngxǐ fācái) — roughly gong-shee fah-tsai — meaning “wishing you wealth and prosperity.” It is the famous Cantonese “Gong hei fat choy” in Mandarin form, and it focuses on a prosperous year ahead rather than general happiness.
A playful traditional reply, especially from children, is 红包拿来 (Hóngbāo ná lái) — “Bring out the red envelope!” — referring to the lucky red money envelopes (hóngbāo) given during the festival.
Mandarin vs. Cantonese
The written characters are identical, but the spoken forms differ:
| Meaning | Characters | Mandarin | Cantonese |
|---|---|---|---|
| Happy New Year | 新年快乐 | Xīnnián kuàilè | Sun nin fai lok |
| Prosperity wish | 恭喜发财 | Gōngxǐ fācái | Gong hei fat choy |
More New Year Blessings
Lunar New Year is rich with four-character good-luck phrases (chéngyǔ):
| Chinese | Pinyin | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 万事如意 | Wànshì rúyì | May all your wishes come true |
| 身体健康 | Shēntǐ jiànkāng | Good health |
| 年年有余 | Niánnián yǒuyú | Abundance year after year |
| 心想事成 | Xīnxiǎng shìchéng | May your heart’s wishes be fulfilled |
| 大吉大利 | Dàjí dàlì | Great luck and great profit |
Useful Sentences
- 祝你新年快乐！ (Zhù nǐ xīnnián kuàilè!) — Wishing you a Happy New Year!
- 新年快乐，恭喜发财！ (Xīnnián kuàilè, gōngxǐ fācái!) — Happy New Year and prosperity!
- 祝你身体健康，万事如意。 (Zhù nǐ shēntǐ jiànkāng, wànshì rúyì.) — Wishing you health and that all goes as you wish.
Quick Recap
Say Xīnnián kuàilè (shin-nyen kwai-luh) for “Happy New Year” any time, and add Gōngxǐ fācái (gong-shee fah-tsai) to wish prosperity at Lunar New Year. The characters are shared with Cantonese, where they become “Sun nin fai lok” and “Gong hei fat choy.” Toss in a blessing like Wànshì rúyì and you will sound wonderfully festive.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Xīnnián kuàilè literally mean?
'新年快乐' (Xīnnián kuàilè) literally means 'new year happy.' 新 (xīn) = new, 年 (nián) = year, 快乐 (kuàilè) = happy/joyful. It's the all-purpose 'Happy New Year' for both the Western January 1st new year and the Lunar (Chinese) New Year, and works in Mandarin across China, Taiwan, and Chinese communities worldwide.
What is the difference between Xīnnián kuàilè and Gōngxǐ fācái?
'Xīnnián kuàilè' (新年快乐) is the general 'Happy New Year.' 'Gōngxǐ fācái' (恭喜发财) literally means 'wishing you wealth and prosperity' and is specific to Lunar New Year, expressing a wish for financial success in the year ahead. The two are often said together at Spring Festival.
How do you pronounce Gōngxǐ fācái?
'恭喜发财' (Gōngxǐ fācái) is roughly gong-shee fah-tsai. 'Gōng' (1st tone, high flat), 'xǐ' (3rd tone, dipping), 'fā' (1st tone, high flat), 'cái' (2nd tone, rising). The 'x' sounds like a soft 'sh,' and 'cai' is like 'tsai.' In Cantonese it's the familiar 'Gong hei fat choy.'
How do you respond to Gōngxǐ fācái?
A traditional playful reply is '红包拿来' (Hóngbāo ná lái) — 'Bring out the red envelope!' This is a lighthearted way children and friends ask for the lucky red money envelopes (红包, hóngbāo) given at Lunar New Year. You can also simply reply 'Gōngxǐ fācái' back, or 'Xīnnián kuàilè.'
Is Xīnnián kuàilè the same in Cantonese?
The characters 新年快乐 are the same, but pronunciation differs. In Cantonese, 新年快樂 is 'Sun nin fai lok,' and 恭喜發財 is the famous 'Gong hei fat choy.' Mandarin uses 'Xīnnián kuàilè' and 'Gōngxǐ fācái.' Written Chinese is shared; spoken pronunciation varies by dialect.