How to say ‘Happy New Year’ in Chinese: Traditional greetings explained as Year of the Ox arrives

Friday 12 February will mark the first day of the Chinese New Year, welcoming in the Year of the Ox.

It always falls on the first day of the Chinese lunar calendar, which begins the day after the first new moon appears between 21 January and 20 February each year.

Celebrations will be very different this year, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, but the New Year is still the most important festival in the Chinese calendar.

Here is how to wish people a “happy New Year” in Chinese, and how people celebrate.

How to say ‘happy New Year’ in Chinese

There are three main ways people like to say “happy New Year” in both Mandarin, which is spoken in mainland China, and Cantonese, which is spoken in Hong Kong.

The first is “Xīnnián hǎo”, which translates as “New Year goodness”.

• Mandarin: 新年好 / “sshin-nyen haoww”
• Cantonese: 新年好 / “sen-nin haow”

The second is “Gōngxǐ fācái”, which translates as “Happiness and prosperity”.

• Mandarin: 恭喜发财 / “gong-sshee faa-tseye”
• Cantonese: 恭喜發財 / “gong-hey faa-chwhy”

The third is “Bùbù gāoshēng”, which translates as “On the up and up”.

• Mandarin: 步步高升 / “boo-boo gaoww-shnng”
• Cantonese: 步步高陞 / “boh-boh goh-sshi”

Red envelopes with money in are given out at Chinese New Year (Photo: Getty)

How is Chinese New Year celebrated?

In China celebrations last for 16 days, starting on the eve of the New Year and finishing on the 15th day, on which the Yuan Xiao Festival takes place. This is when people release thousands of paper lanterns into the sky.

The first week of festivities – from 11-17 February this year – is a national public holiday in China. The lunar new year is also celebrated in other Asian countries such as Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia and Malaysia, and also by Chinese communities across the world, including in the UK.

Celebrations are normally vibrant, with fireworks, parades, dancing and dragon costumes on display. This year, however, the major events have been cancelled and moved online due to the pandemic.

Red is the dominant colour at Chinese New Year – all the decorations are bright red, people wear red clothes and wrap their gifts in red paper. Red envelopes with money in are also given to children.

People often eat expensive meats and seafood that they would not have in everyday life.

What is the meaning behind the Year of the Ox?

This lunar year will be the Year of the Ox, for the first time since 2009.

The ox is the second animal in the lunar calendar. This is because, according to a Chinese myth, the animals were decided in the other in which they arrived at a party thrown by the Jade Emperor.

The ox was set to be the first to arrive, but was tricked by the rat, who rode on its back before jumping off and scurrying in first.

According to the Chinese zodiac, people born in a Year of the Ox are diligent, dependable, strong and determined.

They place strong values on family and patriotism, and have ideals and ambitions for their lives.

Patience is another virtue people born in these years are supposed to have. They are meant to be excellent planners.

However, they can also be stubborn, and might not have the best communication skills.