New Year’s Vocabulary in Traditional Chinese: 80+ Words & Phrases You’ll Actually Use (Beginner-Friendly, Zero Textbook Cringe)
Topic: 新年／過年詞彙（繁體中文） • Characters + pinyin + meanings + real example sentences (and click-to-hear audio).
Want to talk about New Year in Traditional Chinese without sounding like you swallowed a greeting card? This list gives you the words people actually use: characters, pinyin, plain-English meanings, and example sentences you can steal immediately.
You’ll cover both calendar New Year (元旦 / 跨年) and Lunar New Year (春節 / 過年), because Mandarin loves giving one holiday multiple names. You’re welcome.
Yak Snark (helpful, not judgey)
In Taiwan, 跨年 is the December 31 countdown vibe, but 過年 usually means Lunar New Year (aka 春節). If you mix them up, people will still understand… and politely roast you later.
Quick-Use Visual Cards
These are the “you will definitely see/hear this” terms. Tap the audio button to hear the Traditional Chinese.
“`跨年
kuànián
ring in the New Year (New Year’s Eve vibe)
今晚我們一起跨年。
Jīnwǎn wǒmen yìqǐ kuànián.
Tonight we’re ringing in the New Year together.
倒數
dàoshǔ
countdown
大家開始倒數：十、九、八！
Dàjiā kāishǐ dàoshǔ: shí, jiǔ, bā!
Everyone starts counting down: 10, 9, 8!
元旦
Yuándàn
New Year’s Day (Jan 1)
元旦我想睡到自然醒。
Yuándàn wǒ xiǎng shuì dào zìrán xǐng.
On New Year’s Day, I want to sleep until I wake up naturally.
春節
Chūnjié
Lunar New Year / Spring Festival
春節我們會回家團圓。
Chūnjié wǒmen huì huíjiā tuányuán.
For Lunar New Year, we’ll go home and reunite as a family.
除夕
Chúxī
Lunar New Year’s Eve
除夕晚上要吃年夜飯。
Chúxī wǎnshàng yào chī niányèfàn.
On Lunar New Year’s Eve, we eat the reunion dinner.
紅包
hóngbāo
red envelope (money gift)
我給姪子一個紅包。
Wǒ gěi zhízi yí gè hóngbāo.
I gave my nephew a red envelope.
拜年
bàinián
pay New Year visits / greet relatives
初二我們去外婆家拜年。
Chū’èr wǒmen qù wàipó jiā bàinián.
On the second day, we go to Grandma’s to pay New Year visits.
年夜飯
niányèfàn
reunion dinner
年夜飯一定要有魚，象徵年年有餘。
Niányèfàn yídìng yào yǒu yú, xiàngzhēng niánnián yǒuyú.
The reunion dinner must have fish, symbolizing “surplus every year.”
New Year Wishes People Actually Say
These are classic祝福 (blessings). Use them in messages, toasts, and awkward family gatherings.
“`新年快樂
Xīnnián kuàilè
Happy New Year
新年快樂！祝你每天都順利。
Xīnnián kuàilè! Zhù nǐ měitiān dōu shùnlì.
Happy New Year! Wishing you smooth days every day.
恭喜發財
Gōngxǐ fācái
Congrats & get rich (classic Lunar New Year wish)
過年見面，大家都說「恭喜發財」。
Guònián jiànmiàn, dàjiā dōu shuō “Gōngxǐ fācái”.
When meeting during Lunar New Year, everyone says “Gōngxǐ fācái.”
萬事如意
Wànshì rúyì
May everything go your way
祝你萬事如意，心情一直很好。
Zhù nǐ wànshì rúyì, xīnqíng yìzhí hěn hǎo.
Wishing you everything goes your way and you stay in a great mood.
心想事成
Xīnxiǎng shìchéng
May your wishes come true
新的一年，祝你心想事成！
Xīn de yì nián, zhù nǐ xīnxiǎng shìchéng!
In the new year, may your wishes come true!
身體健康
Shēntǐ jiànkāng
Good health
我最希望家人身體健康。
Wǒ zuì xīwàng jiārén shēntǐ jiànkāng.
What I want most is my family’s good health.
財源廣進
Cáiyuán guǎngjìn
May wealth flow in from all directions
開店的朋友最愛聽「財源廣進」。
Kāidiàn de péngyǒu zuì ài tīng “cáiyuán guǎngjìn”.
Friends who run shops love hearing “may wealth flow in.”
闔家平安
Héjiā píng’ān
Peace and safety for the whole family
祝你闔家平安，天天都安心。
Zhù nǐ héjiā píng’ān, tiāntiān dōu ānxīn.
Wishing peace and safety to your whole family, every single day.
大吉大利
Dàjí dàlì
Great luck and great prosperity
新的一年，大吉大利！
Xīn de yì nián, dàjí dàlì!
In the new year—big luck and big wins!
年年有餘
Niánnián yǒuyú
Surplus every year (余 sounds like 魚 “fish”)
年夜飯的魚不要吃完，象徵年年有餘。
Niányèfàn de yú búyào chī wán, xiàngzhēng niánnián yǒuyú.
Don’t finish all the fish—symbolizing “surplus every year.”
迎新送舊
Yíngxīn sòngjiù
Welcome the new, send off the old
跨年就是迎新送舊的儀式感。
Kuànián jiùshì yíngxīn sòngjiù de yíshìgǎn.
New Year’s Eve is basically a ritual for “out with the old, in with the new.”
守歲
shǒusuì
stay up late on Lunar New Year’s Eve
除夕我們一邊聊天一邊守歲。
Chúxī wǒmen yìbiān liáotiān yìbiān shǒusuì.
On Lunar New Year’s Eve, we chat while staying up late.
開工大吉
Kāigōng dàjí
Good luck starting work (after the holiday)
年假結束了，大家互祝開工大吉。
Niánjià jiéshù le, dàjiā hùzhù kāigōng dàjí.
After the holiday ends, everyone wishes each other “good luck starting work.”
Tiny survival tip: A safe message template is: 新年快樂！祝你／你們 + 身體健康／萬事如意／心想事成. Simple. Polite. Zero weirdness.
Quick Clarifier: 元旦 vs 跨年 vs 過年
元旦 is Jan 1 (calendar New Year’s Day). 跨年 is the Dec 31 countdown moment. 過年 usually means Lunar New Year (春節).
If you want one sentence that fits almost any situation:
不管是跨年還是過年，最重要的是平安。
Bùguǎn shì kuànián háishì guònián, zuì zhòngyào de shì píng’ān.
Whether it’s calendar New Year or Lunar New Year, the most important thing is peace and safety.
Table of Words (Grouped by Real-Life Use)
“`Time & Dates
| Traditional Chinese | Pinyin | Meaning (EN) | Example (ZH) | Translation (EN) | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 新年 | xīnnián | New Year | 新年到了，我想換個新髮型。 Xīnnián dào le, wǒ xiǎng huàn gè xīn fǎxíng. | The New Year is here; I want a new haircut. | |
| 跨年夜 | kuànián yè | New Year’s Eve | 跨年夜人很多，要提早出門。 Kuànián yè rén hěn duō, yào tízǎo chūmén. | There are tons of people on New Year’s Eve, so go out early. | |
| 新的一年 | xīn de yì nián | a new year | 新的一年，我想更常運動。 Xīn de yì nián, wǒ xiǎng gèng cháng yùndòng. | In the new year, I want to exercise more often. | |
| 年末 | niánmò | year-end | 年末工作特別忙。 Niánmò gōngzuò tèbié máng. | Work is especially busy at year-end. | |
| 年初 | niánchū | beginning of the year | 年初我會先把目標寫下來。 Niánchū wǒ huì xiān bǎ mùbiāo xiě xiàlái. | At the start of the year, I write down my goals first. | |
| 連假 | liánjià | long weekend / consecutive days off | 元旦連假我們去泡溫泉。 Yuándàn liánjià wǒmen qù pào wēnquán. | During the New Year’s long weekend, we’re going to hot springs. | |
| 年假 | niánjià | New Year holiday (time off) | 年假我只想好好休息。 Niánjià wǒ zhǐ xiǎng hǎohǎo xiūxí. | During the New Year holiday, I just want to rest well. | |
| 除夕夜 | Chúxī yè | Lunar New Year’s Eve night | 除夕夜大家都在家吃飯。 Chúxī yè dàjiā dōu zài jiā chīfàn. | On Lunar New Year’s Eve night, everyone eats at home. | |
| 大年初一 | dànián chūyī | the first day of Lunar New Year | 大年初一要穿得喜氣一點。 Dànián chūyī yào chuān de xǐqì yìdiǎn. | On the first day of Lunar New Year, dress a bit festive. | |
| 初二 | chū’èr | the second day (of Lunar New Year) | 初二通常回娘家。 Chū’èr tōngcháng huí niángjiā. | The second day is often for visiting the wife’s family. |
Traditions & Activities
| Traditional Chinese | Pinyin | Meaning (EN) | Example (ZH) | Translation (EN) | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 過年 | guònián | celebrate Lunar New Year | 我們每年都回老家過年。 Wǒmen měinián dōu huí lǎojiā guònián. | Every year we go back to our hometown for Lunar New Year. | |
| 團圓 | tuányuán | reunion (family togetherness) | 過年最重要的是一家人團圓。 Guònián zuì zhòngyào de shì yìjiā rén tuányuán. | The most important thing is the family reunion. | |
| 圍爐 | wéilú | gather around the table for a reunion meal | 除夕我們會圍爐聊天。 Chúxī wǒmen huì wéilú liáotiān. | On New Year’s Eve, we gather and chat around the table. | |
| 放煙火 | fàng yānhuǒ | set off fireworks | 跨年很多地方會放煙火。 Kuànián hěn duō dìfāng huì fàng yānhuǒ. | Many places set off fireworks on New Year’s Eve. | |
| 煙火秀 | yānhuǒ xiù | fireworks show | 我們去看煙火秀，拍了很多照片。 Wǒmen qù kàn yānhuǒ xiù, pāi le hěn duō zhàopiàn. | We went to watch a fireworks show and took lots of photos. | |
| 鞭炮 | biānpào | firecrackers | 小時候我很怕鞭炮的聲音。 Xiǎoshíhou wǒ hěn pà biānpào de shēngyīn. | When I was little, I was scared of the sound of firecrackers. | |
| 大掃除 | dà sǎochú | big year-end cleaning | 過年前我們會做大掃除。 Guònián qián wǒmen huì zuò dà sǎochú. | Before Lunar New Year, we do a big cleaning. | |
| 除舊布新 | chújiù bùxīn | out with the old, in with the new | 打掃家裡有種除舊布新的感覺。 Dǎsǎo jiālǐ yǒu zhǒng chújiù bùxīn de gǎnjué. | Cleaning the house feels like “out with the old, in with the new.” | |
| 貼春聯 | tiē chūnlián | put up Spring Festival couplets | 我跟爸爸一起貼春聯。 Wǒ gēn bàba yìqǐ tiē chūnlián. | I put up couplets with my dad. | |
| 春聯 | chūnlián | Spring Festival couplets (red paper banners) | 門口貼了新的春聯，看起來很喜氣。 Ménkǒu tiē le xīn de chūnlián, kànqǐlái hěn xǐqì. | We put new couplets on the door; it looks super festive. | |
| 福字 | fúzì | the “Fu” (fortune) character decoration | 我把福字貼在客廳牆上。 Wǒ bǎ fúzì tiē zài kètīng qiáng shàng. | I stuck the “Fu” character on the living room wall. | |
| 倒貼 | dàotiē | stick upside down (for wordplay “arrive”) | 有人把福字倒貼，意思是「福到了」。 Yǒurén bǎ fúzì dàotiē, yìsi shì “fú dào le”. | Some people stick “Fu” upside down, meaning “fortune has arrived.” | |
| 年貨 | niánhuò | New Year goods (snacks, gifts, supplies) | 我們去市場買年貨。 Wǒmen qù shìchǎng mǎi niánhuò. | We went to the market to buy New Year goods. | |
| 拜拜 | bàibài | make offerings / pray (everyday Taiwanese Mandarin) | 過年前我們會去廟裡拜拜。 Guònián qián wǒmen huì qù miào lǐ bàibài. | Before New Year, we go to the temple to pray. | |
| 祈福 | qífú | pray for blessings | 新年我想去祈福，求平安。 Xīnnián wǒ xiǎng qù qífú, qiú píng’ān. | In the new year, I want to pray for blessings and safety. |
Food & Feast Words
| Traditional Chinese | Pinyin | Meaning (EN) | Example (ZH) | Translation (EN) | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 年糕 | niángāo | New Year cake (symbolizes “higher each year”) | 吃年糕，寓意年年高升。 Chī niángāo, yùyì niánnián gāoshēng. | Eating niángāo symbolizes rising higher every year. | |
| 餃子 | jiǎozi | dumplings | 我們全家一起包餃子。 Wǒmen quánjiā yìqǐ bāo jiǎozi. | Our whole family makes dumplings together. | |
| 包餃子 | bāo jiǎozi | wrap/make dumplings | 包餃子需要耐心，也需要有人幫忙吃。 Bāo jiǎozi xūyào nàixīn, yě xūyào yǒurén bāngmáng chī. | Making dumplings takes patience—and someone to help eat them. | |
| 湯圓 | tāngyuán | glutinous rice balls (often symbolizes reunion) | 吃湯圓有團圓的意思。 Chī tāngyuán yǒu tuányuán de yìsi. | Eating tangyuan symbolizes togetherness. | |
| 魚 | yú | fish | 年夜飯一定會有一道魚。 Niányèfàn yídìng huì yǒu yídào yú. | The reunion dinner always has a fish dish. | |
| 長年菜 | chángniáncài | “longevity greens” (must-eat New Year veg) | 長年菜不要切太短，象徵長壽。 Chángniáncài búyào qiē tài duǎn, xiàngzhēng chángshòu. | Don’t cut longevity greens too short—symbolizing long life. | |
| 蘿蔔糕 | luóbogāo | radish cake | 早餐吃蘿蔔糕，很有過年的味道。 Zǎocān chī luóbogāo, hěn yǒu guònián de wèidào. | Eating radish cake for breakfast feels very New Year-ish. | |
| 火鍋 | huǒguō | hot pot | 跨年吃火鍋很熱鬧。 Kuànián chī huǒguō hěn rènào. | Hot pot on New Year’s Eve is lively and fun. | |
| 柑橘 | gānjú | citrus (lucky New Year fruit) | 桌上放柑橘，看起來很吉利。 Zhuō shàng fàng gānjú, kànqǐlái hěn jílì. | Putting citrus on the table looks auspicious. | |
| 敬酒 | jìngjiǔ | make a toast (offer a drink) | 年夜飯大家輪流敬酒。 Niányèfàn dàjiā lúnliú jìngjiǔ. | At the reunion dinner, everyone takes turns making toasts. |
Money, Gifts & Social Stuff
| Traditional Chinese | Pinyin | Meaning (EN) | Example (ZH) | Translation (EN) | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 壓歲錢 | yāsuìqián | New Year money for kids (red envelope money) | 小朋友最期待壓歲錢。 Xiǎopéngyǒu zuì qīdài yāsuìqián. | Kids look forward to New Year money the most. | |
| 包紅包 | bāo hóngbāo | prepare/give red envelopes | 我得先去銀行換新鈔來包紅包。 Wǒ děi xiān qù yínháng huàn xīnchāo lái bāo hóngbāo. | I need to exchange for new bills first to prepare red envelopes. | |
| 發紅包 | fā hóngbāo | hand out red envelopes | 長輩發紅包，小孩笑得很開心。 Zhǎngbèi fā hóngbāo, xiǎohái xiào de hěn kāixīn. | Elders hand out red envelopes; kids smile happily. | |
| 收紅包 | shōu hóngbāo | receive a red envelope | 我收紅包時會說謝謝。 Wǒ shōu hóngbāo shí huì shuō xièxie. | When I receive a red envelope, I say thank you. | |
| 祝福 | zhùfú | blessing / good wish | 你的祝福我收到了，謝謝你。 Nǐ de zhùfú wǒ shōudào le, xièxie nǐ. | I received your well-wishes—thank you. | |
| 問候 | wènhòu | greet / send regards | 我打電話回家問候長輩。 Wǒ dǎ diànhuà huíjiā wènhòu zhǎngbèi. | I called home to send regards to the elders. | |
| 聚會 | jùhuì | gathering | 跨年聚會我會帶飲料去。 Kuànián jùhuì wǒ huì dài yǐnliào qù. | I’ll bring drinks to the New Year’s gathering. | |
| 人潮 | réncháo | crowd of people | 倒數結束後，人潮慢慢散去。 Dàoshǔ jiéshù hòu, réncháo mànmàn sànqù. | After the countdown, the crowd slowly disperses. | |
| 熱鬧 | rènào | lively / bustling | 過年的街上特別熱鬧。 Guònián de jiē shàng tèbié rènào. | The streets are especially lively during New Year. | |
| 訂位 | dìngwèi | reservation | 跨年前餐廳很難訂位。 Kuànián qián cāntīng hěn nán dìngwèi. | It’s hard to get restaurant reservations before New Year’s Eve. | |
| 滿座 | mǎnzuò | fully booked (no seats) | 這家店跨年夜早就滿座了。 Zhè jiā diàn kuànián yè zǎo jiù mǎnzuò le. | This place was fully booked long before New Year’s Eve. |
Resolutions & “New Me” Energy
| Traditional Chinese | Pinyin | Meaning (EN) | Example (ZH) | Translation (EN) | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 新年新希望 | xīnnián xīn xīwàng | new year, new hopes | 新年新希望：我想更常陪家人。 Xīnnián xīn xīwàng: wǒ xiǎng gèng cháng péi jiārén. | New year, new hopes: I want to spend more time with family. | |
| 目標 | mùbiāo | goal | 我今年的目標是把中文練到更自然。 Wǒ jīnnián de mùbiāo shì bǎ Zhōngwén liàn dào gèng zìrán. | My goal this year is to make my Chinese sound more natural. | |
| 計畫 | jìhuà | plan | 我有一個新年計畫：每週讀一本書。 Wǒ yǒu yí gè xīnnián jìhuà: měi zhōu dú yì běn shū. | I have a New Year plan: read one book each week. | |
| 決心 | juéxīn | determination / resolution | 我下定決心早睡，不再熬夜。 Wǒ xiàdìng juéxīn zǎo shuì, bù zài áo yè. | I’m determined to sleep earlier and stop staying up late. | |
| 許願 | xǔyuàn | make a wish | 倒數完我閉上眼睛許願。 Dàoshǔ wán wǒ bìshàng yǎnjīng xǔyuàn. | After the countdown, I closed my eyes and made a wish. | |
| 存錢 | cúnqián | save money | 今年我要認真存錢，少買衝動的東西。 Jīnnián wǒ yào rènzhēn cúnqián, shǎo mǎi chōngdòng de dōngxi. | This year I’ll seriously save money and buy fewer impulse things. | |
| 運動 | yùndòng | exercise | 新年開始，我每天運動二十分鐘。 Xīnnián kāishǐ, wǒ měitiān yùndòng èrshí fēnzhōng. | Starting New Year, I exercise 20 minutes every day. | |
| 開工 | kāigōng | start work (after a break) | 開工第一天，我先整理信箱。 Kāigōng dì yì tiān, wǒ xiān zhěnglǐ xìnxiāng. | On the first day back, I tidy up my inbox first. |
Optional Variants & Handy Notes
Same holiday, different words. Also: a little wordplay, because Mandarin loves puns.
“`| Traditional Chinese | Pinyin | Meaning (EN) | Example (ZH) | Translation (EN) | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 新鈔 | xīnchāo | new bills (crispy banknotes) | 包紅包用新鈔比較體面。 Bāo hóngbāo yòng xīnchāo bǐjiào tǐmiàn. | Using new bills for red envelopes looks more proper. | |
| 吉利 | jílì | auspicious / lucky | 大家喜歡在過年說吉利的話。 Dàjiā xǐhuān zài guònián shuō jílì de huà. | People like to say lucky words during New Year. | |
| 吉祥話 | jíxiánghuà | auspicious phrases (lucky sayings) | 我準備了幾句吉祥話，見到長輩就用。 Wǒ zhǔnbèi le jǐ jù jíxiánghuà, jiàndào zhǎngbèi jiù yòng. | I prepared a few lucky phrases to use when I see elders. | |
| 年味 | niánwèi | New Year atmosphere | 街上掛滿燈籠，很有年味。 Jiē shàng guà mǎn dēnglóng, hěn yǒu niánwèi. | The streets are full of lanterns—so much New Year atmosphere. | |
| 燈籠 | dēnglóng | lantern | 門口掛一個紅燈籠，看起來更喜氣。 Ménkǒu guà yí gè hóng dēnglóng, kànqǐlái gèng xǐqì. | Hang a red lantern at the door—it looks more festive. |
Yak Snark (the “don’t panic” edition)
If you forget everything, just say 新年快樂 with a smile. It’s the Swiss Army knife of New Year greetings. Nobody’s checking your “holiday vocabulary score.”
