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Home China Guide Chinese Culture Chinese Festivals Chinese New Year Greetings

Chinese New Year 2013 will take place in February 9 and end in 24 the same month.  During the New Year, Chinese people greet one another with unique sayings when they meeting each other, whereas on ordinary days, they do not greet those people with whom they do not have a personal relationship. The following are some greetings for the Chinese New Year. China Highlights is your tour expert for China (see why choose us to book a tour China). We now offer you great tours that combine visiting the sights with learning Chinese.

Beginnings of Greeting Sayings

Greetings to an elder and a younger are little different in Chinese, but there is no difference in English.
If the person you are to greet is older than you, you can say:
Wish you or bless you… (祝您…/joo neen/ )
If the one you are to greet is younger than you, you can say:
Wish you or bless you… (祝你…/joo nee/)

Phrases of Greeting Sayings

Common Greeting Sayings for the Chinese New Year

新年快乐(xīn nián kuài lè) Happy New Year!
过年好 (guò nián hǎo) Happy New Year!
新年进步 (xīn nián jìn bù) New Year's progress (this is appropriate when greeting anyone, elder, younger or of any relationship.)
恭喜發財 (gōng xǐ fā cái) Happy and prosperous (always use this as the phrase when receiving gifts or lucky money during Chinese New Year)
财源广进 (cái yuán guǎng jìn) Wealth pours in from all directions
年年有余 (nián nián yǒu yú) Always get more than you wish for (a wish for surplus and bountiful harvests every year)
吉星高照 (jí xīng gāo zhào) Smiles of fortune
吉祥如意 (jí xiáng rú yì) Good fortunes as you wish

Greeting Sayings for Health

龙马精神 (lóng mǎ jīng shén) Spirit of the dragon and horse
身体健康 (shēn tǐ jiàn kāng) Enjoy good health
精灵活泼 (jīng líng huó pō) Aware and active (especially used for children under the age of 10 years, wishing them to be active and smart)

Greeting Sayings at Work and for Business 

生意兴隆 (shēng yì xīng lóng) Prosperous business
万事如意 (wàn shì rú yì) Good luck in every thing
工作顺利 (gōng zuò shùn lì) Everything goes well with your work
事业有成 (shì yè yǒu chéng) Succeed in your career
平步青云 (píng bù qīng yún) Have a meteoric rise (usually to wish for promotions)
马到成功 (mǎ dào chéng gōng) Success immediately upon arrival (usually to express a wish to succeed in doing something, such as taking part in an examination, a presentation, a negotiation, or a competition)

Greeting Sayings for Studies

学业有成 (xué yè yǒu chéng) Have success at school
学习进步 (xué xí jìn bù) Progress in studies
These two phrases are greeting sayings reserved for students, to wish them improvements in their studies.
金榜题名 (jīn bǎng tí míng) succeed in the examination (reserved for those taking an important examination, including students.)

Greeting Saying for the family

阖家欢乐 (hé jiā huān lè) Felicity of the whole family

Related Reading

• New Year Decorations
• Chinese New Year 2013
• Chinese New Year Food
• Date for Chinese New Year
• New Year Cultural Activities
• Happy Chinese New Year in Chinese
• An Introduction to Chinese Zodiac Signs
• Gift for a Chinese Family in Chinese New Year
• Who should I give red packet to? And how much should I wrap in a red packet?

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