Chinese New Year greetings from the Business Confucius Institute team

Today is 小年 (Xiao Nian), which marks the start of the build up to Chinese New Year. In this post the Business Confucius Institute team share their Spring Festival wishes and we provide lots of Chinese New Year greetings that you can use with your friends, family, students and classmates. 

Key dates for Chinese New Year in 2021

Chinese New Year falls on 12 February and this year is the Year of the Ox.

• 小年 (Xiao Nian - 'Little New Year'), Thursday 4 February
• 除夕 (Chúxī – Lunar New Year's Eve), 11 February
• 大年初一 (Dànián chūyī - Chinese New Year's Day), 12 February
• 元宵 (Yuánxiāo - Lantern Festival), 26 February

Chinese New Year greetings from the Business Confucius Institute

All staff at the Business Confucius Institute wish you health, happiness and prosperity in the Year of the Ox!

Say Happy Chinese New Year in Mandarin Chinese

Are you wondering how to say Happy Chinese New Year to the people in your life who celebrate Spring Festival? There are Spring Festival greetings that are used every year, and others that are specific to the Year of the Ox.

A multimedia resource to help you learn Chinese New Year phrases in Mandarin Chinese

We have put together a selection of phrases in this online presentation. Click the link or the button below to find audio clips for each phrase and videos talking you through what they mean and how they are used.

With just a week to go until the Year of the Ox begins you have some time to learn a phrase or two to impress your Chinese friends!

Our Chinese New Year wishes with English translations

These are the Chinese New Year greetings that you hear in our video. 祝大家 is used to address a group of people, so you can skip that if you are talking one on one. Visit the presentation linked above to learn greetings that are suitable for informal situations too!

恭祝大家牛运亨通! Gōngzhù dàjiā niúyùnhēngtōng!

Respectfully wishing you all good fortune in the Year of the Ox, that everything goes smoothly! 

 心想事成! Xīnxiǎngshìchéng!

All the best, may all your wishes come true! 

祝大家牛年大吉! Zhù dàjiā niúnián dàjí!

Wishing you all an auspicious Year of the Ox! 

牛转乾坤! Niúzhuǎnqiánkūn! 

Let’s turn things around in the Year of the Ox! 

祝大家阖家幸福! Zhù dàjiā héjiā xìngfú! 

Wishing you all happiness for your entire family! 

祝大家身体健康! Zhù dàjiā shēntǐ jiànkāng! 

Wishing you all good health! 

万事如意! Wànshìrúyì! 

May all your hopes be fulfilled! 

新年快乐! Xīnniánkuàilè! 

Happy New Year! 

恭喜发财! Gōngxǐfācái! 

May you have a prosperous New Year! 

Resources and further reading

• Check our event listings for some cultural events to celebrate Chinese New Year.
• View our multimedia presentation to learn Chinese New Year greetings in Mandarin Chinese.
• Be inspired by Mandarin Aspirations blog posts about students and staff learning Mandarin Chinese to connect with Chinese students.