When “Happy New Year” Lands Best
Across Mandarin worlds, 新年快樂 (Xīnnián kuàilè) lifts two different moments. On January 1 it works as a clean, international greeting. Around Lunar New Year—the spring festival season when families gather, fireworks ripple, and red envelopes change pockets—it becomes part of a richer set of blessings. In Taiwan, 新年快樂 pairs naturally with 恭喜發財 (Gōngxǐ fācái). In many Mainland settings, 過年好 (Guònián hǎo) and 春節快樂 (Chūnjié kuàilè) also ring out. The greeting changes costume with the calendar, but the heart stays the same: wish joy, safety, and a bright start.
Core Phrases And What They Mean
新年快樂。
Xīnnián kuàilè.
Happy New Year.
祝你新年快樂。
Zhù nǐ xīnnián kuàilè.
Wishing a happy New Year.
祝您新年快樂。
Zhù nín xīnnián kuàilè.
Wishing a happy New Year (respectful).
春節快樂。
Chūnjié kuàilè.
Happy Spring Festival.
過年好。
Guònián hǎo.
Happy New Year (holiday-period greeting).
恭喜發財。
Gōngxǐ fācái.
Congratulations and may wealth come.
萬事如意。
Wànshì rúyì.
May everything go as wished.
新年快樂，心想事成。
Xīnnián kuàilè, xīnxiǎng shì chéng.
Happy New Year; may goals come true.
新年快樂，身體健康。
Xīnnián kuàilè, shēntǐ jiànkāng.
Happy New Year; wishing good health.
新年快樂，平安順心。
Xīnnián kuàilè, píng’ān shùnxīn.
Happy New Year; peace and ease.
Seasonal Flavor And Regional Nuance
During January 1, simple greetings keep things neat: 新年快樂 or 祝你新年快樂 fits cards, emails, and public announcements. Through Lunar New Year, greetings expand. Taiwan speech often layers warmth and prosperity: 新年快樂，恭喜發財，虎（龍／蛇…）年行大運 (…nián xíng dà yùn; may luck soar this zodiac year). In many Mainland cities, 過年好 lands as a friendly opener when visiting or calling family. Titles and 您 smooth the edges for elders and formal relations.
Template for any zodiac year:
[生肖]年快樂，行大運！
[Shēngxiào] nián kuàilè, xíng dà yùn!
Happy [Zodiac] Year—may great fortune roll in!
Building A Natural Greeting
A polished New Year wish often stacks three parts: a warm opening, a key blessing, and a tailored wish.
Opening
新年快樂。
Xīnnián kuàilè.
Happy New Year.
Key blessing
恭喜發財。
Gōngxǐ fācái.
May prosperity come.
Tailored wish
學業進步 / 事業順利 / 全家平安。
Xuéyè jìnbù / shìyè shùnlì / quánjiā píng’ān.
Progress in studies / success at work / safety for the whole family.
Combined example
新年快樂！恭喜發財，事業順利、全家平安。
Xīnnián kuàilè! Gōngxǐ fācái, shìyè shùnlì, quánjiā píng’ān.
Happy New Year! Prosperity, success at work, and safety for the family.
Titles, Respect, And Feminine Address
Adding titles signals care.
校長，新年快樂。
Xiàozhǎng, xīnnián kuàilè.
Happy New Year, Principal.
老師，祝您新年快樂，身體健康。
Lǎoshī, zhù nín xīnnián kuàilè, shēntǐ jiànkāng.
Teacher, wishing a happy New Year and good health.
To a woman, many writers in Taiwan prefer 妳:
祝妳新年快樂，天天開心。
Zhù nǐ xīnnián kuàilè, tiāntiān kāixīn.
Wishing a happy New Year and daily joy.
Red Envelopes, Visits, And Little Phrases That Shine
New Year visits are 拜年 (bài nián). Hosts and guests trade set pieces that feel like verbal firecrackers—brief, bright, and lucky.
新年快樂，恭喜發財。
Xīnnián kuàilè, gōngxǐ fācái.
Happy New Year; prosperity!
大吉大利。
Dàjí dàlì.
Great fortune and great profit.
年年有餘。
Niánnián yǒu yú.
Surplus every year.
步步高昇。
Bùbù gāoshēng.
Step up higher with each step.
龍馬精神 / 龍年大吉（模板可替換生肖）。
Lóngmǎ jīngshén / Lóngnián dàjí.
Vigorous spirit / Auspicious [Dragon]-year.
拿到紅包的小朋友常回一句：
恭喜發財，紅包拿來。（玩笑語氣）
Gōngxǐ fācái, hóngbāo ná lái.
“Congrats and… hand over the red envelope!” (joking)
Dialogues For Real Situations
Family Call On New Year’s Eve
A：阿公，新年快樂，祝您身體健康。
A: Āgōng, xīnnián kuàilè, zhù nín shēntǐ jiànkāng.
A: Grandpa, happy New Year; wishing good health.
B：好好好，新年快樂，全家平安。
B: Hǎo hǎo hǎo, xīnnián kuàilè, quánjiā píng’ān.
B: Good, happy New Year; peace to the whole family.
Office Return After The Holiday
A：新年快樂！今年一起衝刺。
A: Xīnnián kuàilè! Jīnnián yìqǐ chōngcì.
A: Happy New Year! Let’s push hard this year.
B：新年快樂，開工順利。
B: Xīnnián kuàilè, kāigōng shùnlì.
B: Happy New Year; smooth start to work.
Meeting Neighbors In The Lobby
A：新年快樂，萬事如意。
A: Xīnnián kuàilè, wànshì rúyì.
A: Happy New Year; may all go as wished.
B：新年快樂，出入平安。
B: Xīnnián kuàilè, chūrù píng’ān.
B: Happy New Year; safe comings and goings.
MC On Stage
主持人：各位來賓，新年快樂！祝大家大吉大利、心想事成。
Zhǔchírén: Gèwèi láibīn, xīnnián kuàilè! Zhù dàjiā dàjí dàlì, xīnxiǎng shì chéng.
MC: Happy New Year, honored guests! Wishing great fortune and dreams realized.
Short Texts And Captions
新年快樂～今年順順利利。
Xīnnián kuàilè~ jīnnián shùn shùn lì lì.
Happy New Year—may this year run smoothly.
新年快樂喔，平安喜樂。
Xīnnián kuàilè ō, píng’ān xǐlè.
Happy New Year—peace and joy.
Writing For Cards, Emails, And Banners
Card To A Friend
新年快樂！心想事成、天天開心。
Xīnnián kuàilè! Xīnxiǎng shì chéng, tiāntiān kāixīn.
Happy New Year—goals achieved and daily joy.
Card To An Elder
敬祝您新年快樂，福壽安康。
Jìng zhù nín xīnnián kuàilè, fúshòu ānkāng.
Respectfully wishing a happy New Year, with blessings and health.
Email Opener
新年快樂，附上新年度計畫，敬請指教。
Xīnnián kuàilè, fù shàng xīn niándù jìhuà, jìng qǐng zhǐjiào.
Happy New Year. Attached is the annual plan; guidance appreciated.
Banner-Ready
新年快樂．萬事如意
Xīnnián kuàilè. Wànshì rúyì
Happy New Year; may all go as wished.
Idioms And Blessings That Pair Well
吉祥如意。
Jíxiáng rúyì.
Auspicious and as desired.
財源廣進。
Cáiyuán guǎng jìn.
Fortune flows in from many sources.
合家平安。
Héjiā píng’ān.
Peace to the whole family.
歲歲平安。
Suìsuì píng’ān.
Peace year after year.
蒸蒸日上。
Zhēngzhēng rìshàng.
Rising day by day.
開工大吉。
Kāigōng dàjí.
Auspicious start to work.
Practice Drills（Copy-Ready）
Stack The Blessings
新年快樂，＿＿＿＿順利，＿＿＿＿平安。
Xīnnián kuàilè, ______ shùnlì, ______ píng’ān.
Happy New Year; smooth ______ and safe ______.
Respectful Version
老師，祝您新年快樂，身體健康、萬事如意。
Lǎoshī, zhù nín xīnnián kuàilè, shēntǐ jiànkāng, wànshì rúyì.
Teacher, happy New Year; good health and wishes fulfilled.
Zodiac Template
＿＿年快樂，行大運，心想事成。
______ nián kuàilè, xíng dà yùn, xīnxiǎng shì chéng.
Happy Year of the ______; great fortune and goals achieved.
Host–Guest Exchange
A：新年快樂，恭喜發財。
A: Xīnnián kuàilè, gōngxǐ fācái.
B：新年快樂，年年有餘。
B: Xīnnián kuàilè, niánnián yǒu yú.
Work Kickoff
新年快樂，開工順利，目標必達。
Xīnnián kuàilè, kāigōng shùnlì, mùbiāo bì dá.
Happy New Year; smooth kickoff and targets met.
Quick Reference Table
| Purpose | Traditional Chinese | Pinyin | Natural Use |
| Happy New Year | 新年快樂 | Xīnnián kuàilè | Universal; Jan 1 & Lunar |
| Happy Spring Festival | 春節快樂 | Chūnjié kuàilè | Lunar New Year period |
| Holiday greeting | 過年好 | Guònián hǎo | Visiting, calling family |
| Prosperity wish | 恭喜發財 | Gōngxǐ fācái | Common paired blessing |
| All goes well | 萬事如意 | Wànshì rúyì | Cards, banners, speeches |
| Dreams realized | 心想事成 | Xīnxiǎng shì chéng | Warm, personal wish |
| Health first | 身體健康 | Shēntǐ jiànkāng | Elders, family focus |
| Safe and sound | 平安順心／出入平安 | Píng’ān shùnxīn / chūrù píng’ān | Everyday safety wishes |
| Work start | 開工大吉 | Kāigōng dàjí | Post-holiday kickoff |
| Year of ___ | [生肖]年快樂 | [Shēngxiào] nián kuàilè | Zodiac-ready template |
Firecrackers Fading, Blessings Still Bright
When the countdown echoes and lanterns quiet, the language keeps glowing. New Year greetings stack like red envelopes: a clear 新年快樂 on top, a bright 恭喜發財 in the middle, and a tailor-made wish tucked beneath—健康 for elders, 事業 for colleagues, 平安 for travelers, 心想事成 for dreamers. With tones steady and blessings specific, every “Happy New Year” lands like a small burst of light that lingers long after midnight.