Chinese Wallpaper & Art · Reviewed against a native Chinese editor's notes
Chinese New Year blessings and what they mean
Eight greetings you will see everywhere
| Greeting | Pinyin | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 新年快乐 | xīnnián kuàilè | Happy New Year — general |
| 恭喜发财 | gōngxǐ fācái | Wishing you prosperity |
| 万事如意 | wànshì rúyì | May everything go as you wish |
| 岁岁平安 | suìsuì píng’ān | Peace and safety, year after year |
| 年年有余 | niánnián yǒuyú | Abundance every year (余 sounds like 鱼, fish) |
| 大吉大利 | dàjí dàlì | Great luck and great profit |
| 心想事成 | xīnxiǎng shìchéng | May your wishes come true |
| 龙马精神 | lóngmǎ jīngshén | Vigour and vitality (dragon-horse spirit) |
Which greeting for whom
- Elders and grandparents. 岁岁平安, 身体健康 (“good health”), or 福如东海 (“may your fortune be as vast as the eastern sea”).
- Business contacts. 恭喜发财, 生意兴隆 (“may business flourish”), 财源广进 (“may wealth flow in”).
- Friends and colleagues. 新年快乐, 万事如意, 心想事成.
- Children. 快高长大 (“grow up quickly and well”) and 学业进步 (“progress in studies”).
- Anyone. 新年快乐 works in almost every setting; when unsure, it is the safe choice.
Words and numbers to avoid
- Death and illness. 死 (sǐ) and 病 (bìng) are avoided, along with anything that sounds like them.
- Loss and breakage. 输 (shū, “to lose”) and 破 (pò, “to break”) are unlucky at New Year — which is why breaking a bowl is turned into 岁岁平安 as a verbal remedy.
- The number 4. 四 (sì) sounds like 死, so 4 and amounts containing it are avoided.
- “It’s over.” 完了 (wán le) is considered a bad thing to say during the holiday.
Where the blessings are written and displayed
- Spring couplets (春联, chūnlián). Paired red banners on either side of a doorway, matching in length and tone.
- The character 福. Often pasted alone, sometimes upside down to mean “fortune has arrived”.
- Red envelopes. Blessings printed on the envelope, in gold.
- Wall art and wallpapers. Single blessings or full phrases, in calligraphy or festive design.
- Cards and messages. The same phrases, in simplified or traditional characters depending on the recipient.
Frequently asked questions
What does 恭喜发财 mean?
恭喜发财 (gōngxǐ fācái) means “wishing you prosperity” — literally congratulations, may you become wealthy. It is one of the most common Chinese New Year greetings, especially in business.
What is the most common New Year greeting?
新年快乐 (xīnnián kuàilè, “Happy New Year”) is the most general. 恭喜发财 is the most common when prosperity is the wish, and 万事如意 (“may all go as you wish”) is common among friends and family.
What greeting should I use for an elder?
岁岁平安 (“peace year after year”) and 身体健康 (“good health”) are safe, respectful choices for older relatives.
What greeting should I use in business?
恭喜发财 and 生意兴隆 (“may business flourish”) are standard. 财源广进 (“may wealth flow in”) is also common.
Are there words I should avoid saying at New Year?
Yes. Avoid words that sound like death (死), illness (病), losing (输) or breaking (破). The number 4 is avoided for the same reason, and saying 完了 (“it’s over”) is considered unlucky during the holiday.
Should I write blessings in simplified or traditional characters?
Either is correct. Simplified characters are standard in mainland China and Singapore; traditional characters in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau and many overseas communities. Choose according to your audience and keep the design consistent.