Popular 5 Ways to Say Happy New Year in Cantonese [2024]

When the new year is around the corner, it’s great to know how to wish someone a happy Chinese New Year, especially in Cantonese. Even though there are different accents, these greetings complement each other. Here are some suggestions to help you wish someone by learning how to say Happy New Year in Cantonese. Let’s dive in!

Part 1: How Do You Say Happy New Year in Cantonese: 5 Popular Ways

Let’s begin the journey of exploring how do you say Happy New Year in Cantonese!

1. 恭喜發財 Gong Hei Faat Choy / gong hei faat choy 

Meaning: Sending you well-being and financial gains.

“Gong hei faat choy,” one of the most prevalent Chinese New Year wishes in Chinese communities worldwide, is often shouted as soon as two Chinese people extend their welcomes to one another.

It is frequently used in conjunction with the well-known salutation “sun tai gin hong” (身櫕健康), which denotes good health. When you originally meet someone, give them a “gong hei faat choy” while making the fist or palm salutation!

2. 新年快樂 Sun Nin Fai Lok: Sun Nin Fai Lok

Meaning: Have a wonderful New Year!

To elaborate, you can say “sun nin fai lok” to anybody during the Chinese New Year. It’s a very adaptable Chinese New Year wish that you can use the same way you would say “Happy New Year” to others.

3. 學業怲步: hok yip jun bou

Meaning: Advancement in research

In Cantonese, this phrase directly translates to wishing you pleasure and prosperity.” Best wishes for good fortune and wealth. For the start of the Lunar Year, which often occurs in January, it’s a well-liked option.

4. 뿫핷大 Fai Gou Jeung Dai: fai gou jeung dai

Meaning: Quickly becoming larger and taller

Do you know a child that is eager to get bigger? They would appreciate your blessings if you greeted them with “fai gou jeung dai”!

5. 大吉大利 Dai Gut: Dai Lei Dai gut dai lei

Meaning: Wishing you luck and good sailing.

In addition to luck, the second character, “gut” (吉), also indicates tangerines, so depictions of them are frequently seen with this greeting. “Dai gut dai lei,” another well-liked and adaptable Chinese New Year welcome, is also one of the simplest to write! 

Part 2: Evolving Language Trends in Cantonese New Year Wishes

As you have learned the answer to the query, how do you say Happy New Year in Cantonese; let’s now dive deeper into the culture. In East and Southeast Asian language groups, the modern Chinese language has developed into several distinct varieties. As such, the word pluricentric—meaning having several centers or standards—has been legitimately applied to it. 

Due to the significant effect of a distinct combination of political, social, economic, social to cultural, ecological, historical, and linguistic elements on the evolution of the Chinese variety as written and spoken in Hong Kong.

Due to its unique vocabulary, native Chinese characters, recognizable colloquial phonetic amenities, highly conventionalized written structure, an extensive list of English loanwords obtained through phonemic translation, and culture of lexicography in conjunction with Romanization, the territory’s Cantonese language has achieved extraordinary status. 

Part 3: New Year’s Customs and Traditions in Cantonese Culture

One of the largest holidays in Hong Kong is Chinese New Year. There are certain Chinese New Year traditions that you must become familiar with for a prosperous new year, whether you’re enjoying the event with friends and family at home or in other parts of the city.

New Year’s Attire

Wear new clothing and throw out the old ones for Chinese New Year, which marks a new beginning for the year. Additionally, many people wear red clothing and occasionally even underwear to assist in a lucky year since red is associated with luck and happiness.

Spring Clean Before New Year

Before Chinese New Year, cleaning the house represents a new beginning and a peaceful, orderly atmosphere to welcome the new year. Cleaning your home thoroughly is said to help clear the air of any residual bad luck or adverse influence from the past year, creating room for wealth and good fortune to enter your property in the upcoming year.

Savor a Joyous Feast

On the last day of Chinese New Year, families customarily get together for an extravagant meal and feast on festive fare like fat choy (black moss), dried oysters, and poon choi, a Cantonese casserole dish filled with many different ingredients that symbolize luck and fortune.

Part 4: FAQs

Q1: Why are New Year Greetings Important in Cantonese Culture?

New Year greetings in Cantonese culture are a way to express good wishes, blessings, and positive vibes for the upcoming year. It’s a cultural norm to exchange greetings as a form of respect and well-wishing. So, learning how do you say Happy New Year in Cantonese and wishing your Chinese friend can be the best gift you can give to them. 

Q2: What Are Some Traditional Cantonese New Year Greetings and Their Meanings?

Traditional greetings include “Sun Nin Fai Lok” (Happy New Year), “Gung Hei Fat Choi” (Wishing Prosperity), and “Man Si Yu Yi” (Wishing Everything Goes Smoothly). Each carries unique cultural significance related to luck, prosperity, and well-being.

Q3: How Important is Pronunciation When Saying New Year in Cantonese?

Yes, modern greetings like “Sing Dan Gung Hay Fat Choy” (Wishing prosperity during Christmas) or “Ho Sik Sun Lei” (Wishing for delicious meals in the New Year) reflect the dynamic and evolving nature of language and culture.

Summary

This article works as a Cantonese New Year guidebook. It teaches you how do you say Happy New Year in Cantonese in different ways, like “Gong Hei Faat Choy” and “Sun Nin Fai Lok.” It also gives you cool phrases to wish for good things, like success in studies or growing taller. However, if you want to go beyond the Cantonese wishes and want to excel in the Cantonese language, WuKong has covered you! Visit the official website to enroll in your desired language learning course and learn to say Happy New Year in Cantonese!