Lunar New Year greetings, with how to say them

Mandarin

• Xīnnián kuàilè (sheen-nyen kwai-luh): happy new year. The all-purpose greeting, fine for anyone.
• Gōngxǐ fācái (gong-shee fah-tsai): congratulations and may you prosper. The most famous one, slightly more about money, used with family, friends and shopkeepers alike.
• Shēntǐ jiànkāng (shen-tee jyen-kahng): good health. The wish to give to grandparents.
• Wànshì rúyì (wahn-shir roo-ee): may everything go as you wish. A good second line after one of the above.
• Xuéyè jìnbù (shweh-yeh jin-boo): progress in your studies, for students.
• Shēngyì xīnglóng (shung-ee shing-long): may your business thrive, for anyone who runs one.

Cantonese

• Gung hei fat choi: the Cantonese version of the prosperity wish, and the greeting most people outside Asia know. In Hong Kong and Guangdong it is the default.
• San nin faai lok: happy new year.
• San tai gin hong: good health.
• Lung ma jing san: the spirit of a dragon and a horse, meaning boundless energy. A favourite for older relatives.
• Lai see dau loi: hand over the red envelope. Said by children, with a grin, immediately after the greeting. Do not try this on your manager.

Vietnamese

• Chúc mừng năm mới (chook moong nam moy): happy new year. Works for everyone.
• An khang thịnh vượng (an kang tin voong): peace, health and prosperity. The classic Tết wish, often printed on cards.
• Vạn sự như ý (van soo nyoo ee): may all things go as you wish.
• Sức khỏe dồi dào (sook kweh zoy zow): abundant health, for elders.
• Tiền vô như nước (tee-en vo nyoo nook): may money flow in like water. Light-hearted, for friends.

Korean

• Saehae bok mani badeuseyo (seh-heh bok mah-nee bah-deu-seh-yo): may you receive much good fortune in the new year. This is the greeting; there is really only one, and it is used by everyone to everyone.
• Geonganghaseyo (gun-gahng-hah-seh-yo): be healthy, a good addition for older people.

The Goat-year greeting

Every animal year has a greeting built on a pun, and the Goat's is one of the oldest. Sān yáng kāi tài (sahn yahng kai tai) literally means "three yáng open the way to good fortune". The word for goat or sheep, yáng, sounds exactly like the yáng of yin and yang, the bright, rising half, so three goats stand for the sun returning and a fresh start. You will see it on 2027 cards and decorations drawn as three sheep, and it is a lovely thing to write to anyone born in a Goat year, who enter their own sign year in 2027.

When to say it, and how to reply

Greetings start on New Year's Eve and keep going through the fifteen days until the Lantern Festival, so there is no need to rush them all into one day. Wishing someone a happy new year on day ten is normal. If someone greets you first, the reply is simply the same greeting back, or "you too": nǐ yě shì in Mandarin, and in Korean the same long phrase returned with a bow of the head.

In a card or a message, lead with the standard greeting, add one wish that fits the person (health for a grandparent, studies for a student, business for a colleague), and sign off. Two lines is plenty. For a work message in English, "Happy Lunar New Year, wishing you a healthy and prosperous Year of the Goat" covers everyone, and "Lunar" rather than "Chinese" includes Vietnamese and Korean colleagues.