Advanced CNY Greetings
It’s almost time for our annual Chinese New Year bai nian visits. For some of us, this means angbaos. For others, it’s a great time to feast on yummy CNY goodies. One thing’s for sure, and that’s the fact that we’ll be uttering CNY greetings to the friends and fam we’ll be meeting.
If you’re gunning to make a lasting impression, we’ve got you covered. Move aside, basic overused well wishes – here are advanced CNY greetings to say this year that’ll make you seem less of a “jiak kantang”.
When is it appropriate to start and stop saying Chinese New Year greetings?
It’s not uncommon to start saying CNY greetings a few days before the actual start of CNY (29th January 2025), especially during lohei, which is traditionally done at reunion dinners on the eve of Chinese New Year. You can continue with CNY greetings all the way till the 15th day of CNY, or Chap Goh Mei.
Is it okay to use Chinese New Year greetings even if I’m not Chinese?
Yes, in multicultural Singapore, you’ll find many non-Chinese using these greetings with their Chinese friends. If you’re unsure about pronunciation, a simple Happy New Year is still well-appreciated during this festive season.
1. 蝉蜕蛇解 (chán tuì shé jiě)
Translation: To transform and reach newer heights
In literal terms, this phrase describes the moulting of skin that cicadas and snakes go through to accommodate their growing bodies. On a deeper level though, we can adopt this mindset of transformation going into 2025, as we strive to become the better, ever-growing versions of ourselves to take on the year’s challenges.
Now, if only there was a way to magically shed the extra pounds we’re about to gain from the countless hotpot feasts, we’re all ears.
2. 龙蛇飞舞 (lóng shé fēi wǔ)
Translation: To be blessed with a smooth life/career
It may be the end of the Dragon Year but here’s one more saying you can slip in during conversations just for this year as it evokes a sense of harmony and unity between the dragon and snake zodiac animals of Chinese culture.
Originally used to refer to elegant brush strokes in calligraphy, this saying blesses recipients with a smooth life or career, by striking a balance between physical and mental health.
3. 大展鸿图 (dà zhǎn hóng tú)
Translation: May your great plans come to fruition
This phrase is handy for the younger ones to greet working adults with – a.k.a. the main source of angbaos. It expresses a wish for one’s grand plans to materialise in the future. In other words, you’re basically wishing someone success in achieving their goals.
4. 愈来愈靓 (yù lái yù jìng)
Translation: Get prettier and prettier
Roughly translated as someone “getting prettier and prettier”, this phrase serves as a compliment to a woman’s beauty. Perhaps you can use it to score some brownie points with your mother-in-law or wifey this CNY.
5. 天赐良缘 (tiān cì liáng yuán)
Translation: Heaven sent relationship
Image credit: Jessica Lai
If you know someone who is #foreveralone who wants to get out of the single zone, wish them well with this phrase during your CNY meet up. It means that you wish for their Mr or Ms Right to appear right around the corner. Psst… if you’re an extra solid friend, maybe introduce your good-looking cousin to them this year. Who knows? They could be The One™.
6. 笑口常开 (xiào kǒu cháng kāi)
Translation: To be happy and smile often
You can greet anyone with this phrase regardless of their age or gender. When you use it, you’re wishing the recipient a year full of happiness and smiles. It’s the more cheem alternative to your usual “新年快乐” (xīn nián kuài lè) greeting.
7. 吉星高照 (jí xīng gāo zhào)
Translation: May your lucky star shine bright
Referencing one’s lucky star isn’t just something that’s done in English; it’s used in Chinese culture as well. When you say this greeting to someone, you’re asking their “lucky star to shine bright” and wishing them good luck and success in life.
8. 金榜题名 (jīn bǎng tí míng)
Translation: To succeed in the imperial examination
If your greetings bank for your younger school-age cousins is limited to just “学业进步” (xué yè jìn bù), it’s time for you up your game.
Level up with this saying which translates to a wish for someone to succeed in “imperial examinations”. While imperial examinations were abolished in China during the Qing Dynasty in 1905, Singapore’s still got national exams so use this to wish someone academic success. Who knows, it just might help them the next time they’re dealing with notoriously difficult exam questions.
9. 锦绣前程 (jǐn xiù qián chéng)
Translation: Bright future
This Chinese idiom wishes someone a good future ahead. It’s another good phrase to keep in mind if you have relatives who are still young or in school.
10. 寿比南山 (shòu bǐ nán shān)
Translation: May you live a long and happy life
Needless to say, respecting our elders is extremely important, so try to have at least one CNY greeting in the bank for them. And generally, you’d want to wish them a long and healthy life – which is precisely what this phrase is all about.
To score some bonus points, you may also throw in the phrase 福如东海 (fú rú dōng hǎi) beforehand to wish them boundless fortune.
11. 升官发财 (shēng guān fā cái)
Translation: May you get promoted and receive a raise
Most of us might know that “发财” (fā cái) means getting rich, but if you add in “升官” (shēng guān) in front, you’ve got yourself a saying that means “receiving a promotion and getting more wealth”.
TL;DR: Use this to greet any career-minded person you know and hope they give you a fatter angbao.
12. 财源广进 (cái yuán guǎng jìn)
Translation: Wishing for money and wealth to generously enter one’s home
Image credit: @jellyfied via Instagram
Another phrase which brings in the idea of rolling in cash, this greeting wishes for money and wealth to generously enter one’s home. Baller lifestyle, where ya at?
13. 阖家安康 (hé jiā ān kāng)
Translation: May your whole family be safe and healthy
Money and good fortune might be important, but what’s the point of wealth if you don’t have the health to enjoy it? To balance things out, don’t forget to wish your entire family safety and good health with phrases like this one.
Well wishes for CNY 2025
Even if you can’t remember all of these greetings, it’ll still be useful to memorise one or two in your head. After all, you never know when they’ll come in handy or score you some extra angbaos.
More CNY articles:
Last updated by Khoo Yong Hao & Raewyn Koh on 20th January 2024.