Wann sagt man Happy new year?

On this page, we've got the top ways to say "Happy Chinese New Year" in Chinese and Cantonese which you will use during the Chinese New Year period, which is from Chinese New Year's day (Jan. 22, 2023) up to the 15th day of the Chinese New Year (Feb 5, 2023).

As 2023 is a year of the Rabbit, we've also prepared popular greetings with Rabbit symbolism to help you wish a happy New Year to your friends.

3 Ways to Say "Happy Chinese New Year" in Chinese and Cantonese

In Mandarin, the most common way to wish your family and close friends a happy Chinese New Year is "Xīnnián hǎo" (新年好), literally meaning 'New Year Goodness' or 'Good New Year'. Another way to say "Happy Chinese New Year" is "Xīnnián kuàilè" (新年快乐), literally meaning 'New Year happiness'. It is a formal greeting typically used for strangers.

In Cantonese, the common way to say 'Happy Lunar New Year' is "Gong hei fat choy" (恭喜发财), which means 'Wishing you happiness and prosperity.'

1. 新年好 — 'New Year Goodness' (popular way)

• In Mandarin: xīn nián hǎo /sshin-nyen haoww/

• In Cantonese: san nin hou

2. 新年快乐 — 'New Year happiness' (formal way)

• In Mandarin: xīn nián kuài lè /sshin-nyen kwhy-ler/

• In Cantonese: sun nin fai lok

3. 恭喜发财 — 'Happiness and prosperity' (in Mandarin)

• In Mandarin: gōng xǐ fā cái /gong-sshee faa-tseye/

• In Cantonese: gong hay fat choy

3 Most Popular Chinese New Year Greeting Phrases

Usually, you only have to greet people like this the first time you see them in the new Chinese calendar year, and after that, you can return to normal Chinese greetings (e.g. Nihǎo).

1. 大吉大利 — Lots of luck and profits!

• In Mandarin: dà jí dà lì /daa-jee daa-lee /

• In Cantonese: dai gut dai lei

2. 万事如意 — May all go well with you!

• In Mandarin: wàn shì rú yì /wann-shrr roo-ee/

• In Cantonese: mahn si yuh yi

3. 步步高升 — Step-by-step high promotion (Promoting to a higher position)

• In Mandarin: bùbù gāoshēng /boo-boo gaoww-shnng/

• In Cantonese: /boh-boh goh-sshin/

Click to see more Chinese New Year greetings and wishes.

How to Wish Someone Happy Chinese New Year 2023

As 2023 will be a year of the Rabbit, you could wish your friends a Happy Rabbit Year with the below lucky phrases!

1. 兔年快乐 — Happy year of the Rabbit!

2. 兔年大吉 — Wishing you lots of luck this Rabbit year!

3. 兔年兴旺 — Wishing you a prosperous year of the Rabbit!

4.   愿你的新年像兔子一样祥和美好!
May your New Year be as lucky and lovely as the Rabbit!

5.  祝你兔年幸福安康!
May your year of the Rabbit be full of happiness and health!

How Do You Respond to "Happy Chinese New Year"?

When someone greets you with "新年快乐 (Xīnnián kuàilè, Happy New Year)", the best and simple replies are:

1. "新年快乐 (Xīnnián kuàilè)"
2. "Happy New Year to you too, thank you"
3. Thank you, and wish you the same.

How to Write 'Happy Chinese New Year' in Chinese?

Want to write a New Year's card to your friends in China? Here's how you can write "happy Chinese New Year" in Chinese, stroke by stroke.

"Happy New Year"is written "新年快乐"in simplified Chinese characters.

The character for 'New'(新Xīn /sshin/) comes first:

The second, 年(Nián /nyen/) is the character for 'Year':

The last two characters快乐(kuàilè /kwhy-luh/) together mean 'happy'. On its own, the Chinese character 快(kuài) can mean 'fast':

New Year’s is the time for new beginnings, resolutions, and riding the wave of newly acquired motivation. What better time to start learning a new language like German?

Maybe you can soon practice those language skills on a trip to a German-speaking country. They have some of the best cities and places to visit for New Year’s Eve, whether you’re planning to party with a million people or looking for a quiet spot in the mountains to escape the turmoil.

We’ll tell you exactly where to spend this special time of the year, how to say happy new year in German, and what to expect when you’re there. Get ready for some beautifully weird New Year’s traditions - from pig runs to flammable drinks.

How to say Happy New Year in German

“Happy New Year” in German is “frohes neues Jahr”.

There is another common phrase we use explicitly for new years: “Guten Rutsch!” It translates to “good slide,” and funny enough, it’s completely senseless. Derived from the Yiddish phrase “a git Rosch” (ראש השנה טוב), it means “a good beginning.”

Most likely, that Yiddish phrase was jokingly translated to the similar-sounding “guten Rutsch.”

Nowadays, the phrase is commonly understood as sliding into the new year, which makes sense considering the often icy German streets on New Year’s Eve. People tell each other to slide over to the new year carefully and jokingly warn “rutsch nicht aus” (don’t slip and fall).

Happy New Year in German pronunciation

New Year’s Eve in German is “Silvester,” but there is no way to say “Happy New Year's Eve” in German. You wouldn’t wish a happy “Silvester,” only a happy new year: Frohes neues Jahr [ˌfʁoːəs ˌnɔɪ̯əs ˈjaːɐ̯].

“Frohes” is pronounced just like you would read it, only with the specific German “r.” “Neues” is pronounced “Noy-as” and “Jahr” sounds like a slightly longer version of the German word for yes, which you have probably heard a million times: Ja.

New Year’s traditions in German speaking countries

There are NYE traditions that most countries have in common - from writing down new year’s resolutions to the fireworks - but there are many that are quite unique to German-speaking countries. Most of the German traditions are also common in Austria, Switzerland, and other countries.

Especially in the bigger cities, it seems like we all tend to celebrate similarly. We eat, drink and light some firecrackers. It’s usually in the smaller towns that you’ll find some special, old traditions still alive.

New Year traditions in Germany

No fish - except carp

In German, New Year’s Eve is named after Pope Sylvester I, who died on December 31 in the year 335. Legend has it that non-believers used to suffocate on fishbones in his presence. That’s why superstitious people avoid eating fish that day.

A contradicting tradition is to eat carp on New Year’s Eve. Carrying a carp’s fishscale in your wallet that day is supposed to bring extra wealth in the new year.

Bleigießen

During the so-called “Bleigießen” (pouring lead), small pieces of lead are heated over a flame. Once liquid, you pour them into a bowl of water. Then you determine what shape it took and that shape predicts your future in the new year.

Different fruits can mean things like a quiet love (pineapple) or fun (banana). A bird means good luck is flying your way. You’ll need some imagination to see any of these shapes in the little clumps of lead though.

Eat a Berliner

Not the people of course. “Berliner” are donuts filled with jam that Germans love to eat on New Year’s Eve. In Berlin itself, they’re called “Pfannkuchen” and in the South they’re called “Krapfen”.

Fiery drinks

Try a glass of “Feuerzangenbowle”! This drink has red wine, cherry liquor, and wintry spices like ginger and cinnamon. It’s pronounced “Foy-er-tsung-an-bowl-eh,” ok?

Like all the best German winter drinks, it’s served warm - burning hot, actually. Traditionally, a rum-soaked sugar cube is set on fire to melt and drip into the wine. Mixing red wine, rum, and fire… What could possibly go wrong?

New Year’s traditions in other German speaking countries

Waltz in Austria

In Austria, people traditionally waltz on New Year’s Eve. At midnight sharp, while the fireworks go off, Austrians play the “Donauwalzer” (Danube Waltz) and dance into the new year. Quite festive!

Pig race in Switzerland

In the little town of Klosters in Switzerland, every new year’s day, ten little piggies race against each other. Pigs are so popular on new year’s because they symbolize good fortune. For the same reason, people also like to give little marzipan pigs as gifts.

Silvesterchlausen in Switzerland

Especially in the region of Appenzell, men dress up on New Year’s Day and march through the streets as so-called “Chläuse.” Wearing masks, colorful clothes, and cowbells, they make noise and go from house to house to personally wish everyone a happy new year.

Bettnäschter in Liechtenstein

In Liechtenstein, sleeping in on New Year’s Day might end in a rude awakening. Whoever wakes up last is pronounced the so-called “Bettnäschter” and will be woken up by the others clapping the lids of some pots together.

New Year’s resolutions in German

New Year’s resolutions in German are “gute Vorsätze” (good resolutions). Some of the best ones include living healthy, learning new things, and doing good but find whichever ones will make you happy!

Happy new year song in German

Fantasy - Was machst du an Silvester (Offizielles Video)

There aren’t too many New Year’s Songs in German but we did find this gem: Two guys, a snowy mountain landscape, questionable outfit choices and cheesy lyrics about falling in love over the holidays. Sounds like Wham? Close.

This is Fantasy - a German “Schlager” music duo with their song “Was machst du an Silvester?” (What are you doing for New Year’s Eve?). We already know what you’ll be doing for New Year’s. Jamming to this catchy song.

4 of the best German cities to visit for New Year’s Eve

It’s no secret that Germans know how to party - but German-speaking countries also have a few hidden spots for a peaceful New Year’s Eve getaway.

1. Berlin, Germany

Of course, the big party is at the Brandenburger Tor in the German capital. This one’s for you if you want to celebrate the new year with loud music, impressive fireworks and a million other people.

2. Laupen, Switzerland

In the smalltown of Laupen, you’ll possibly see the most fascinating New Year’s parade in all of Switzerland. In order to drive away the ghosts of the old year, people come together and dress up as a number of interesting characters, most of them wearing wood masks and fur clothes. You’ll have to see it.

3. Warnemünde, Germany

This beautiful coastal town by the Baltic Sea has a special New Year’s tradition - a spectacular little fireworks show in front of the Warnemünde Lighthouse. The event is called “Turmleuchten” (Tower light) and includes live music and a lightshow.

4. Salzburg, Austria

The romantic city of Salzburg starts celebrating, when the fortress riflemen fire their shots at the famous fortress of Hohensalzburg. People start gathering and just before midnight you’ll see them waltzing in front of the cathedral. In case you were wondering, “fortress riflemen” in German is “Festungsprangerstutzenschützen”. You might want to write that down.

What’s your New Year’s Resolution?

To take a German class? Or finally go on that Europe trip and travel to one of the beautiful German-speaking countries?

The holidays are the best time of the year for wishes to come true, so start planning your trip.

Remember all the new words you learned and pick and choose which traditions to follow once you’re there.

Just be careful when eating fish, don’t slip and fall and maybe stay away from that “Feuerzangenbowle”. The fact that you now know how to pronounce it is hot enough.

Feeling delighted with our festive, fun, free German vocab articles? You know where to keep up the joy.

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