Here in the Philippines, we often see Chinese New Year Greetings like Kung Hei Fat Choi or Gong Xi Fa Cai. Which is the right greeting?
Some Filipinos may probably think that these mean “Happy New Year” in Chinese. Well…
“Kung Hei Fat Choi” is Cantonese. It’s supposed to be Gung Hei Fat Choi which means “prosperous” (fat choi) and “congratulations.” (gung hei) This really means “Congratulations and best wishes for a prosperous New Year!”
“Gong Xi Fa Cai” is Mandarin for “May you come into a good fortune!”
Considering that majority of the Chinese Filipinos here in the Philippines speak the Hokkien dialect, then it is better to greet them in Hokkien. Say “Kiong Hee Huat Tsai.”
If you want to greet your Chinese Filipino friend “Happy New Year” in Mandarin, say it as “Xin Nien Kuai Le” (formally written as “Xin Nian Kuai Le”). In Hokkien, it is “Sin Ni khòai lok.”
Want to know more New Year greetings (in Mandarin) for your Chinese family and friends?
Here are some Mandarin Chinese greetings you might want to learn:
Best wishes for the year to come!
恭 贺 新 禧 !
gōng hè xǐ xīn
Good luck in the year ahead!
祝 吉 星 高 照 !
zhù jí xīng gāo zhào
May you come into a good fortune!
恭 喜 发 财 !
gōng xǐ fā cái
Blessings for longevity and fortunes!
多 福 多 寿 !
duō fú duō shòu
May many fortunes find their way to you!
祝 财 运 亨 通 !
zhù cái yùn hēng tōng
I want to wish you longevity and health!
愿 你 健 康 长 寿 !
yuàn nǐ jiàn kāng cháng shòu
Take good care of yourself in the year ahead.
请 多 保 重 !
qǐng duō bǎo zhòng
Wish you have many futures and successes.
祝 你 今 后 获 得 成 就 更 大 。
zhù nǐ jīn hòu huò dé gèng dà chéng jiù
Good luck, good health, good cheer. I wish you a happy New Year.
祝 好 运 、 健 康 、佳 肴 伴 你 度 过 快 个 乐 一 新 年
zhù hǎo yùn jiàn kāng jiā yáo bàn nǐ dù guò yí gè kuài lè nián xīn
May the coming New Year bring you joy, love and peace.
新 年 为 愿 你 带 来 快 乐, 友 爱 和 宁 静 。
yuàn nián xīn wéi nǐ dài lái kuài lè yǒu ài hé níng jìng
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