Chinese New Year greetings
The greeting that works for any calendar — Gregorian, lunar, Chinese — is 新年快乐 (xīn nián kuài lè), “Happy New Year”. To say “I wish you…”, start with 祝你 (zhù nǐ); to a person one addresses politely, 祝您 (zhù nín). So “I wish you a happy New Year” is 祝你新年快乐. Most New Year wishes are four characters; they are the same kind of set phrase as chengyu. Tradition gives two weeks to offer them, from the first day of the lunar year. In Cantonese the prosperity wish is also heard as Gong Hey Fat Choy.
The usual greetings
- 新年好 (xīn nián hǎo) — Happy New Year.
- 过年好 (guò nián hǎo) — Have a good New Year.
- 新春快乐 (xīn chūn kuài lè) — Happy Spring Festival.
- 春节快乐 (chūn jié kuài lè) — Happy Spring Festival — happy Chinese New Year.
- 心想事成 (xīn xiǎng shì chéng) — May every wish come true.
- 吉祥如意 (jí xiáng rú yì) — Luck as you wish it.
- 万事如意 (wàn shì rú yì) — May everything go your way.
- 六六大顺 (liù liù dà shùn) — May all go smoothly.
- 年年有余 (nián nián yǒu yú) — Surplus, year after year.
- 吉星高照 (jí xīng gāo zhào) — May your lucky star shine.
- 大吉大利 (dà jí dà lì) — Great luck and great profit.
Health
- 身体健康 (shēn tǐ jiàn kāng) — Good health.
- 健康长寿 (jiàn kāng cháng shòu) — Health and long life.
- 龙马精神 (lóng mǎ jīng shén) — The spirit of the dragon and the horse.
Wealth
- 恭喜发财 (gōng xǐ fā cái) — Congratulations and prosperity — the line that goes with a red envelope.
- 财源广进 (cái yuán guǎng jìn) — Wealth from every side.
Work and business
- 工作顺利 (gōng zuò shùn lì) — Smooth work.
- 事业有成 (shì yè yǒu chéng) — Success in one’s career.
- 平步青云 (píng bù qīng yún) — A steep rise.
- 马到成功 (mǎ dào chéng gōng) — Success at once.
- 升官发财 (shēng guān fā cái) — Promotion and wealth.
- 生意兴隆 (shēng yì xīng lóng) — A thriving business.
Study
- 学业有成 (xué yè yǒu chéng) — Success in one’s studies.
- 学习进步 (xué xí jìn bù) — Progress in learning.
- 金榜题名 (jīn bǎng tí míng) — One’s name on the exam list.
The whole family
- 阖家欢乐 (hé jiā huān lè) — Joy in the whole family.
- 阖家幸福 (hé jiā xìng fú) — Happiness for the whole family.
Other four-character wishes
The same stock, without a recording on this site, includes 平平安安 (peace and safety), 健康快乐 (health and happiness), 步步高升 (a rise at every step), 欢乐多多 (joy in plenty), and again 万事如意 — the formula is used so often it appears twice in the same magazine list.
In a Year of the Dragon
When the animal of the year is the Dragon, greetings name it: 龙年大吉 (great luck in the Year of the Dragon), 龙神保佑 (may the dragon spirit protect you), 龙年旺旺 (a flourishing dragon year), 龙凤呈祥 (dragon and phoenix bringing good omen), 龙运当头 (the dragon’s luck overhead), 龙飞凤舞，福气满屋 (the dragon flies, the phoenix dances, luck fills the house). They are for that year, not for every year.
Longer greetings
Full sentences, for a card or a message, say the same things at more length: a happy New Year to you and the whole family (祝福你及全家新年快乐); may all go well and the household be at peace (万事如意，合家平安); health and joy always (祝你永远健康快乐); may every New Year wish come true (愿你所有的新年想都成真); peace, joy and happiness as the year arrives (在新年来临之际，祝福你平安、快乐、幸福); may your lucky star shine in the year ahead (愿你在未来的一年里，吉星高照). From far away: mountains and rivers cannot cut the thought of you at the festival (千山万水，隔不断我在佳节对你的思念). The greeting-card tool sets a line on a card; the gifts page is what often accompanies the wish.