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<\/a>Edmonton Chinese New Year 2015 by IQRemix from Flickr.com is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0<\/p><\/div>\n
\u65b0\u5e74\u5feb\u4e50<\/strong> X\u012bnni\u00e1n ku\u00e0il\u00e8 = A generic, informal way to wish happy New Year, no matter which year it’s been referred to: 2017 or the rooster year. \u65b0 means new, \u5e74 means year, and \u5feb\u4e50 means happy.<\/p>\n \u606d\u8d3a\u65b0\u79a7<\/strong> G\u014dngh\u00e8 x\u012bnx\u01d0 = It’s a the traditional way to wish happy Chinese New Year. \u606d\u8d3a is a polite verb meaning to congratulate. \u79a7 is a pretty rare word, meaning festivity, joyous occasion. Together with \u65b0 it’s referred to the New Year. So \u606d\u8d3a\u65b0\u79a7 is the polite, formal, traditional way to say \u65b0\u5e74\u5feb\u4e50.<\/p>\n \u606d\u559c\u53d1\u8d22<\/strong> G\u014dngx\u01d0 f\u0101c\u00e1i = Unlike the greetings above, \u606d\u559c\u53d1\u8d22 is not a general blessing, but a more specific one. \u606d\u559c, like \u606d\u8d3a, is a polite verb meaning to congratulate. \u8d22 by itself is a noun, meaning wealth, capital.\u53d1\u8d22 is a verb, meaning to get rich, to make a fortune. The desire to become wealthy is not something the Chinese are shy about. They need the money to eat, to survive. They need the money to fulfill their filial duties and to ensure the best life for their child. This is way everyone hopes to be the one to bite the lucky dumpling during Chinese New Year Eve. The dumpling with the hidden coin inside is an auspicious symbol for the hopefully coming fund. This is way \u606d\u559c\u53d1\u8d22 is the most popular greeting during Chinese New Year.<\/p>\n \u5e74\u5e74\u6709\u4f59<\/strong> Ni\u00e1n ni\u00e1n y\u01d2uy\u00fa = This greeting is the reason the Chinese eat fish at New Year Eve. Only because the pronunciation of \u4f59, meaning more, over, excess, is similar to the pronunciation of \u9c7c, meaning fish. \u5e74\u5e74 means every year, year after year. \u6709\u4f59 means have a surplus, have enough and to spare. Wishing someone \u5e74\u5e74\u6709\u4f59 is wishing him to have everything he needs and more.<\/p>\n \u5c81\u5c81\u5e73\u5b89<\/strong> Su\u00ec su\u00ec p\u00edng’\u0101n = \u5c81is a noun for year in written language.\u5c81\u5c81, like \u5e74\u5e74, means every year, year after year. \u5e73\u5b89 means peaceful, safe, well. To wish someone \u5c81\u5c81\u5e73\u5b89 is to wish him safety and peace in the coming year. This greeting is also a byword for good luck whenever someone awkwardly breaks something. Because \u5c81 and the Chinese verb to break, \u788e, are homophones. In this way the Chinese replace the shattering to pieces in an auspicious saying.<\/p>\n \u4e07\u4e8b\u5982\u610f<\/strong> W\u00e0nsh\u00ec r\u00fay\u00ec = \u4e07 means myriad, \u4e8bmeans matter, and together\u4e07\u4e8b means all things, everything. \u5982 is a verb, meaning to be like something, to be as something. \u610f is a noun for desire, intention. \u5982\u610f together means to be like one wishes, to come one’s way. \u4e07\u4e8b\u5982\u610f is wishing someone that all his desires will come true.<\/p>\n \u4e07\u4e8b\u5927\u5409<\/strong> W\u00e0nsh\u00ec d\u00e0j\u00ed = \u5409means lucky, auspicious. Like in the name of \u5409\u6797 province in the north of China. \u5927 as adverb means very, extremely. To wish someone \u4e07\u4e8b\u5927\u5409 is to wish him best of luck in everything he is doing.<\/p>\n \u5409\u7965\u5982\u610f<\/strong> J\u00edxi\u00e1ng r\u00fay\u00ec = \u5409 and \u7965 are synonyms, only \u7965 is less common word. \u5409\u7965 together means propitious, fortunate. And \u5982\u610f as we mentioned above is to be like something. So \u5409\u7965\u5982\u610f is to wish someone best of luck. This greeting is less common in spoken language and more prevalent in calligraphy, painting and paper cutting.<\/p>\n All of the greetings above- except for \u65b0\u5e74\u5feb\u4e50 – are traditional Chinese greetings. You can use them to bless anyone, from relative at New Year dinner to a stranger on the street. They appear frequently on New Year cards, banners and doors decoration, but they are also commonly used in spoken language (\u5409\u7965\u5982\u610f is exempt). There are endless ways to bless someone, especially if you know him. For examples of personal greetings, watch this short episode of \u5feb\u4e50\u6c49\u8bed :<\/p>\n