How to say “happy new year” in Chinese
🔊 Tap to hear it
Pinyin colour key: tone 1 (high flat), tone 2 (rising), tone 3 (dipping), tone 4 (falling), neutral.
Word by word
Tone tip
At Chinese New Year you'll also hear 恭喜发财 (gōngxǐ fācái), a wish for wealth and prosperity rather than just a greeting.
In a sentence
Xīnnián kuàilè, gōngxǐ fācái!
Happy New Year, and may you prosper!
Hear it and say it right
Reading pinyin only gets you halfway. ToneDeck plays native audio and scores your pronunciation so your tones land. HSK 1 is free, no install.
Start freeFrequently asked questions
How do you say "happy new year" in Chinese?+
"happy new year" in Mandarin Chinese is 新年快乐, pronounced xīnnián kuàilè. At Chinese New Year you'll also hear 恭喜发财 (gōngxǐ fācái), a wish for wealth and prosperity rather than just a greeting.
What does 新年快乐 mean literally?+
新年快乐 breaks down as 新年 (xīnnián) = new year, 快乐 (kuàilè) = happy / joyful. Together it means "happy new year".
How do I get the tones right in xīnnián kuàilè?+
At Chinese New Year you'll also hear 恭喜发财 (gōngxǐ fācái), a wish for wealth and prosperity rather than just a greeting.
More phrases like this
Master the tones behind it
What each tone sounds like and why it matters.
Why some tones change in connected speech.
On iPhone, Android and the web
ToneDeck is on the App Store. The trainer works right now.
Download ToneDeck for iPhone or Android today. One account unlocks Pro on both the app and the web. Prefer the browser? The full tone trainer runs at tonedeck.app right now, no install, free to start.
Sign up free and start trainingSee all the phrases on the how to say things in Chinese index, or read how to learn Mandarin tones.