Happy Chinese New Year 2025 Greetings, Wishes and Sayings

Give Chinese New Year's greetings (in Chinese: 拜年, pinin: bài nián, literally pay respects during the New Year) is a traditional Chinese folk custom, a way for people to say goodbye to the old and welcome the new, and to express their good wishes to each other. 

In ancient times, the tradition primarily referred to wishing the elderly a happy New Year, including kowtowing to the elders, congratulating them on the New Year, and greeting them for a good life.

In this article, we have compiled a comprehensive list of Chinese New Year greetings, which you can use to wish your family and friends a happy Lunar New Year.

How to Say Happy Chinese New Year in Mandarin

新年快乐! (Xīn Nián Kuài Lè!)

It is a traditional greeting during the Chinese New Year celebration, when everyone probably says it dozens of times a day.

How to Say Happy Chinese New Year in Cantonese

新年快樂! (San1 nin4 faai3 lok6!)

However, 恭喜發財! (Gung hei faat choi!) is actually is the most popular Chinese New Year greeting in Cantonese area and among overseas Cantonese.

According to some research, "恭喜發財" originated from the Thirteen Houses of Guangzhou in the late Qing Dynasty. According to folklore, during the Qing Dynasty, some Chinese from the Thirteen Houses would go to the merchants' houses to pay New Year's greetings, and would keep saying "恭喜發財" as soon as they entered the door. Since then, the phrase "Gung hei faat choi!" has been widely spread and has become a common New Year greeting.

Most Popular Chinese New Year Greetings (in Both Mandarin and English)

General Greeting

新年快乐 (Xīn Nián Kuài Lè!) - Happy New Year!

新年好 (Xīn Nián Hǎo) - Happy New Year!

大吉大利 (dà jí dà lì) - Big fortunate and great profit!

身体健康 (shēn tǐ jiàn kāng) - Wish you good health!

心想事成 (xīn xiǎng shì chéng) - May all your wishes come true.

万事如意 (wàn shì rú yì) - Everything goes as you wish.

笑口常开 (xiào kǒu cháng kāi) –May you have a lot of laugher and smiles in your life.

阖家幸福 (hé jiā xìng fú) - I wish you and your family happiness.

If giving a Chinese New Year Greeting to a Merchant / Shop keeper

恭喜发财 (gōng xǐ fā cái) - May you be happy and prosperous.

生意兴隆 (shēng yì xìng lóng) - Wish you success in your business.

开门大吉 (kāi mén dà jí) - Good luck opening the door.

财源广进 (cái yuán guǎng jìn) - Wish you flourishing source of wealth.

If giving a Chinese New Year Greeting to an elder

寿与天齐 (shòu yǔ tiān qí qīng) - I wish you longevity.

健康长寿 (jiàn kāng cháng shòu) - May you live long and healthy.

长命百岁 (cháng mìng bǎi suì) - I wish you a long life.

>> Customize a China tour for seniors to see local elder's life

If giving a Chinese New Year Greeting to an Official / Employee

步步高升 (bù bù gāo shēng) - I wish you a promotion.

大展宏图 (dà zhǎn hóng tú) - I wish you a great success.

If giving a Chinese New Year Greeting to a Child

岁岁平安 (suì suì píng ān) - May peace be with you all the year round.

How to Wish Somebody Happy Chinese New Year 2025 - the Year of Dragon

蛇年快乐 (lóng nián kuài lè) - Happy Snake Year!

蛇年吉祥 lóng nián jí xiáng) - I wish you a happy Snake Year.

蛇年平安 (lóng nián píng ān) - I wish you a safe year of the Snake.

蛇年健康 (lóng nián zjiàn kāng) - I wish you a healthy year of the Snake.     

蛇年富贵 (lóng nián fù guì) - I wish you a prosperous year of the Snake.     

祝您蛇年大吉,身体健康,万事如意 (Zhù nín lóng nián dà jí, shēntǐ jiànkāng, wànshì rúyì.) - I wish you a happy Snake Year, good health and all the best!

"Happy Chinese New Year": How Do You Respond?

1. 新年快乐 (Xīn Nián Kuài Lè!) - Happy New Year!

2. Thank you, and the same to you!

Fun Chinese New Year Sayings

有钱没钱，回家过年 - Rich or poor, go home for the New Year.

二十七，杀只鸡 - Kill a chicken on the 27th day of the Lunar New Year.

叫花子过年，穷讲究 - A beggar's Lunar New Year's Eve, and all that.

饺子就酒越喝越有 - Pairing dumplings with wine, the more you drink, the happier you'll be!

大年三十吃饺子 - 没有外人: Eating dumplings on New Year's Eve - No Outsiders!

Keep reading:

Chinese New Year Red Envelope: How to Give

Best 13 Chinese New Year Decorations and Crafts for Home and Office