Chinese people greet one another with lucky sayings and phrases to wish each other health, wealth, and good fortune when they meet during the Chinese New Year (Lunar New Year) period.
Here are the most popular Chinese New Year greetings, wishes, messages, and quotes in Mandarin and Cantonese which will enable you to share joy and love during the festive period.
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- 3 Popular Chinese New Year Greetings
- New Year Wishes for the Horse Year 2026
- New Year Wishes for Friends and Family
- New Year Wishes for Business Clients
- New Year Wishes for Colleagues and Bosses
- New Year Wishes for Kids and Students
- Popular New Year Wishes for Anyone and for Any Occasion
- Chinese New Year Wishes Sentences
- Funny Chinese New Year Wishes
Chinese New Year Greetings and Wishes for the Horse Year 2026
As 2026 is a year of the Horse, it will be popular to greet people with new year lucky phrases including Horse (马 or mǎ in Chinese). Here are the most popular greetings for the year of the Horse.
马年快乐！ — Happy year of the Horse!
马行天下，步步高升!
May you slither through life, rising higher with each step!
马舞春风，万事如意!
As the horse dances in the spring breeze, may all your wishes come true.
马年兴旺，家庭团圆乐无边!
Wishing you a prosperous Year of the Horse, with family reunions and endless joy.
马行千里，事业辉煌展!
As the horse travels a thousand miles, may your career shine bright.
Chinese New Year Wishes for Friends and Family
1. 平平安安 — Peace and safety!
- In Mandarin: píng píng ān ān /ping ping an an/
- In Cantonese: ping ping ngon ngon
2. 幸福安康 — Peace and happiness!
- In Mandarin: xìng fú ān kāng /sshing-foo an-kung/
- In Cantonese: hang fuk ngon hong
3. 阖家欢乐 — Happiness for the whole family!
- In Mandarin: hé jiā huān lè /cher-jyaa hwan-ler/
- In Cantonese: hap gu fun lok
4. 吉祥如意 — Good luck and life according to your wishes!
- In Mandarin: jí xiáng rú yì /jee-sshyang roo-ee/
- In Cantonese: gat coeng jyu ji
5. 好运连连 — Good luck again and again!
- In Mandarin: hǎo yùn lián lián /hao-ywnn lyen-lyen/
- In Cantonese: hou wan lin lin
Chinese New Year Wishes for Colleagues and Bosses
1. 工作顺利 — May your work go smoothly!
- In Mandarin: gōng zuò shùn lì /gong-dzwor shwnn-lee/
- In Cantonese: gung zok seon lei
2. 事业有成 — Success in your career!
- In Mandarin: shì yè yǒu chéng /shrr-yeah yoh-chnng/
- In Cantonese: si jip jau sing
3. 平步青云 — Have a meteoric rise (usually to wish for promotions)!
- In Mandarin: píng bù qīng yún /ping-boo ching-ywnn/
- In Cantonese: ping bou cing wan
4. 马到成功 — Success immediately upon arrival!
- In Mandarin: mǎ dào chéng gōng /maa-dao chnng-gong/
- In Cantonese: maa dou sing gung
5. 步步高升 — Promotions at every step!
- In Mandarin: bù bù gāo shēng /boo-boo gao-shnng/
- In Cantonese: bou bou gou sing
6. 升官发财 — Win a promotion and get rich!
- In Mandarin: shēng guān fā cái /shnng-gwan faa-tseye/
- In Cantonese: sing gun fat choy
5 Popular Chinese New Year Wishes for Anyone and for Any Occasion
During the period of Chinese New Year, you can use these very common Chinese New Year sayings to express your best wishes.
1. 大吉大利 — Lots of luck and profits!
In Cantonese, the pronunciation of gut (桔, 'mandarin oranges') is the same as gut (吉, 'auspiciousness'). That's why orange is one of the most popular Chinese New Year foods.
- In Mandarin: dà jí dà lì /daa-jee daa-lee /
- In Cantonese: dai gut dai lei
2. 心想事成 — May all your wishes come true!
People with a dream or wishes they want to come true would love to be greeted with this greeting.
- In Mandarin: xīn xiǎng shì chéng /sshing-sshyang shrr-chnng/
- In Cantonese: sum seung si sing
3. 万事如意 — May all go well with you!
It directly translates as '10,000 things go according to your wishes.'
- In Mandarin: wàn shì rú yì /wann-shrr roo-ee/
- In Cantonese: mahn si yuh yi
4. 身体健康 — Wishing you good health!
It can be said to all people, especially the elder people.
- In Mandarin: shēn tǐ jiàn kāng /shnn-tee jyen-kung/
- In Cantonese: sun tai gin hong
5. 年年有余 — Surplus year-after-year!
The pronunciation of 余 (yú, meaning 'abundance') is the same as the pronunciation of 鱼 (meaning 'fish'). Usually, people prepare two fish for Chinese New Year's Eve dinner, one for dinner and one for the next day (surplus for the new year!).
- In Mandarin: nián nián yǒu yú /nyen-nyen yoh-yoo/
- In Cantonese: nin nin yau yu
Funny Chinese New Year Wishes
1. 恭喜发财，红包拿来
Meaning: Wishing you happiness and prosperity; give me a red envelope.
Use this to greet someone if you're expecting lucky money. Only say this to close friends and relations. Don't say it to strangers or in a formal setting, to avoid looking presumptuous or ridiculous.
- In Mandarin: Gōng xǐ fā cái, hóng bāo ná lái
- In Cantonese: gong hay fat choy, hung baau naa loi
2. 一帆风顺、二龙腾飞、三羊开泰、四季平安、五福临门、六六大顺、七星高照、八方来财、九九同心、十全十美、百事亨通、千事吉祥、万事如意！
Meaning: I wish you all the best, all things prosperous, and all things auspicious!
Literally: 'Wishing you one smooth voyage, two dragons soaring, three goats bringing peace, four seasons of safety, five blessings at your door, six-six ('flowing') great favor, seven stars shining down from on high, eight directions yielding wealth, nine-nine ('long-lasting') harmony, ten (out of ten) for excellence, 100 (all) things to your liking, 1,000 (all) things lucky, 10,000 (all) things your way.'
- In Mandarin:
Yī fān fēng shùn, èr long téng fēi, sān yáng kāi tài, sì jì píng ān, wǔ fú lín mén, liù liù dà shùn, qī xīng gāo zhào, bā fāng lái cái, jiǔ jiǔ tóng xīn, shí quán shí měi, bǎi shì hēng tōng, qiān shì jí xiáng, wàn shì rú yì!
- In Cantonese:
jat faan fung seon, ji lung tang fei, saam joeng hoi taai, si gwai ping ngon, ng fuk lam mun, luk luk taai seon, cat sing gou ziu, baat fong loi coi, gau gau tung sam, sap cyun sap mei, mak si hoeng tung, cin si gat coeng, mak si jyu ji.
