新年快乐 (xīnnián kuàilè) — “happy new year” — is a phrase worth knowing twice over, because in China the year turns twice: once on 1 January, and again, far more grandly, at Chinese New Year.
The festive season comes with its own warm, lucky greetings — most famously 恭喜发财 — plus red packets and reunion feasts. This guide covers the natural ways to say happy new year in Chinese, when to use which, and the customs behind them — tap any phrase to hear it spoken by a native voice, and use the flashcards to make them stick.
10 ways to say happy new year in Chinese
From the standard 新年快乐 to the festive 恭喜发财 — here are the ways to say happy new year in Chinese. Tap 🔊 on each.
Chinese New Year words
A few festive extras you’ll meet around 春节.
You’ll also see the character 福 (fú, “fortune”) hung upside-down — because 倒 (“upside-down”) sounds like 到 (“arrives”), so it reads as “fortune arrives”.
新年快乐 or 恭喜发财?
新年快乐 (xīnnián kuàilè) is the literal “happy new year”. But the greeting you’ll hear most at Chinese New Year is 恭喜发财 (gōngxǐ fācái) — “wishing you wealth and prosperity” (you may know its Cantonese form, gong hei fat choy). Children often follow it with 红包拿来 (hóngbāo ná lái) — “now bring the red packet!”.
Red packets (红包) of lucky money, a big reunion dinner on New Year’s Eve, and lucky words everywhere are all part of 春节 (chūnjié), the Spring Festival. There’s far more to explore in Chinese New Year traditions.
恭喜发财 is the warmest, most festive thing to say at Chinese New Year — and if a child grins and adds 红包拿来, that’s your cue to hand over a red packet! For 1 January (the Gregorian new year), simply stick with 新年快乐.
Which New Year greeting, when?
| Situation | Say | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Any new year | 新年快乐 | The standard |
| Chinese New Year | 恭喜发财 | “Wishing you prosperity” |
| An elder | 身体健康 | Good health |
| A colleague | 步步高升 | “Rise step by step” |
| Replying to a wish | 你也是 | “You too” |
Common mistakes to avoid
The little slips that trip up beginners saying happy new year in Chinese — and the natural fix for each.
✕Only using 新年快乐 at CNY
At Chinese New Year, 恭喜发财 (gōngxǐ fācái) is the festive greeting everyone actually says.
✕Mixing up 春节 and 元旦
元旦 (yuándàn) is 1 January; 春节 (chūnjié) is Chinese New Year — the lunar one.
✕Reading 恭喜发财 as “happy new year”
It actually means “wishing you wealth” — pair it with 新年快乐 for the full greeting.
✕Rushing the tones
恭喜发财 is gōngxǐ fācái (1·3·1·2) — keep each syllable clear and even.
Quick check
1. The most iconic Chinese New Year greeting is…
2. 恭喜发财 literally means…
3. What is a red packet called?
FAQs
Ring in the new year in Chinese — then keep the conversation going
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