Chinese New Year Greeting Ideas

60 Best Chinese New Year Greetings For 2024

Ready or not, the Year of Dragon is approaching, and with it comes the opportunity for a fresh start and reinvention for all (you know what they say: “New year, new me”). Whatever you plan to do to celebrate the arrival of 2024 – whether it is a cosy hotpot dinner with family, or a night of partying on Chinese New Year's Eve with friends – don't forget to send thoughtful CNY greetings to those you care about. Who knows, your encouraging words and thoughts could make all the difference!

Now you may wonder what to put in a Chinese New Year greeting card for your family, friends, and colleagues. The truth is, you don’t need to know Mandarin to wish someone a happy Chinese New Year. We’re here to help with a collection of sentimental, touching, funny, and professional CNY wishes that will inspire you and those around you to walk right into your best year yet. 

Traditional CNY Greetings in Mandarin

If you want to go traditional with a greeting in the Chinese language itself, here are some good Chinese New Year wishes in Mandarin to use aside from the standard 新年快乐 (xīn nián kuài lè - Happy Chinese New Year) or 恭喜发财 (gōng xǐ fā cái - Wishing you prosperity and good fortune).

Chinese New Year Greetings in Mandarin for happiness and peace

  • 恭贺新禧 (gōng hè xīn xǐ) – Good luck in the year ahead
  • 心想事成 (xīn xiǎng shì chéng) – May all your wishes come true
  • 身体健康 (shēn tǐ jiàn kāng) – Wishing you good health
  • 出入平安 (chū rù píng ān) – Wishing you safety and peace wherever you go
  • 阖家幸福 (hé jiā xìng fú) – May your whole family be filled with happiness
  • 万事如意 (wàn shì rú yì) - May all go well with you

Chinese New Year Greetings in Mandarin for wealth and success

  • 恭喜发财 (gōng xǐ fā cái) – May you be happy and prosperous
  • 财源广进 (cái yuán guǎng jìn) – May your money and treasures be plentiful
  • 招财进宝 (zhāo cái jìn bǎo) – May wealth and treasures fill your home
  • 新年大吉 (xīn nián dà jí) – Wishing you luck for the new year
  • 吉星高照 (jí xīng gāo zhào) – May good fortune fall upon you
  • 工作顺利 (gōng zuò shùn lì) — May your work go smoothly

Happy New Year Greetings for the Dragon Year 2024

  • 龙年大吉!(Lóng nián dàjí!) - Wishing you great luck in the Year of the Dragon!
  • 龙马精神!(Lóng mǎ jīngshén!) - May you have the spirit of the dragon and horse (symbolizing vitality and energy)!
  • 龙凤呈祥,幸福安康!(Lóng fèng chéngxiáng, xìngfú ānkāng!) - May the dragon and phoenix bring you happiness and well-being!
  • 身体健康,龙年大吉!(Shēntǐ jiànkāng, lóng nián dàjí!) - Wishing you good health and great luck in the Year of the Dragon!
  • 龙腾虎跃,步步高升!(Lóng téng hǔ yuè, bùbù gāo shēng!) - May you rise with the power of the dragon and tiger, achieving success at every step!

Touching CNY greetings for family members

Don’t wait to send happy lunar new year greetings to those who are near and dear. If you're looking for some happy Chinese New Year wishes in English, use these Chinese New Year phrases as inspiration to craft your own, or pick your favourite sayings below for your aunties, siblings, cousins, or grandparents! 

  • To the one who adds sunshine to our family and brings joy into our lives, Happy New Year!
  • There is no greater source of cheer than a loving family, and ours shines brightly each and every year! Wishing you a happy Lunar New Year, dad!
  • To my very first friend and my constant support: I hope this year will bring you nothing but the best. Love you, sis!
  • This time of year is perfect for remembering the good times past, and every one of my most cherished childhood recollections involves you, mum. Happy Chinese New Year!
  • Do you know how much I appreciate all the good laughs and embarrassments we've shared through the years? Let’s keep that tradition going and have a fantastic New Year, bro.
  • Whatever the Year of Dragon has in store, we’ll be in it together. Happy New Year to the one I love the most!
  • I'm excited about what the new year may bring, and I'm even more excited that you'll be there every step of the way. Wishing you a Chinese New Year that outshines all the rest!
  • Whenever you're with the person you truly love, time seems to fly by. Here’s to making more great memories together in 2024!
  • Thank you for filling a tough year with laughter, love, and friendship. Cheers to another great year of conquering the world together!

Sentimental CNY greetings for friends

Here in Singapore, Chinese New Year is a perfect time for you to let your friends know how much they mean to you. Here are all the heartfelt, motivational, and happy CNY messages you’ll need to show how grateful you are to have your friends in your life, and encourage them to reach their goals.

  • Being your buddy has been like taking a course in genuine friendship. Wishing you a very Happy Chinese New Year, my dearest friend!
  • I guess we’ve had a great time together… despite aging and slowing down over the past year, LOL! Cheers to another fabulous year, mate!
  • May our friendship continue to bring us joy and warmth on even the most mundane days of 2024!
  • I am so grateful for your exceptional friendship over this extraordinary year. Here’s to many more years of friendship to come.
  • May you realise all your wildest aspirations in the new year. You got this, buddy!
  • You gave me the strength I needed to make it through all the challenges I faced this year. Thank you for your amazing friendship and wishing you endless blessings in the Chinese New Year ahead.
  • Here’s to another 12 months full of joy, laughter, and unforgettable memories with the best friend ever!
  • Our friendship is like fine wine, and it's a new year of us getting better with age. Here’s to the very best Chinese New Year, buddy!
  • Here's to a fresh start in the New Year spent with the same wonderful friend!
  • Every year on Lunar New Year’s Eve is like starting a brand new novel. Here’s to creating a fantastic tale, my friend!
Chinese New Year Greeting Ideas

Professional CNY greetings for bosses, colleagues, and clients

It’s a wonderful time of the year to greet your coworkers, supervisors, and business partners with a happy new year and to thank them for their support in the past year. Pair these happy lunar new year greetings with thoughtful CNY gifts for an extra thoughtful gesture this new year.

CNY greetings for the boss

  • I have no doubt that next year will be our best as a team because we have you as our leader. Happy Chinese New Year, boss!
  • Thank you for being the driving force behind my determination to succeed this year. Cheers to a prosperous Chinese New Year, boss!
  • To the best leader I’ve ever had: I hope that the New Year brings you and your loved ones nothing but joy and success.
  • I can’t wait to see how our team will grow in the coming year thanks to your excellent leadership. Have a blessed New Year, boss!
  • I sincerely appreciate the massive support you gave me over the past year, boss. May you have a prosperous Chinese New Year.

CNY greetings for colleagues and employees

  • I am truly proud of what we’ve accomplished this year, team. Let’s make this 2024 even a better one!
  • Congratulations on another fantastic year! You guys have been incredible, and I can't wait to see what the next year brings for us as a team.
  • Sending the very best Chinese New Year's wishes to my bestie at work! May your salary multiply and your stress levels go down this year.
  • To my most cherished coworker: May you achieve the peak of your career and personal achievements this year.
  • Without you, the office would be rather dull this year. Cheers to the start of another successful New Year!

CNY greetings for customers and business partners

  • From everyone here at [company name]: Happy Chinese New Year! We appreciate your meaningful support over the past year and can't wait to see what this year's collaborative efforts will yield!
  • To our valued customers: You inspire us to be better each day, and we look forward to serving you for another successful year.
  • We’re thankful for having clients like you in the past year. Let's toast to yesterday's achievements and tomorrow's brightest hopes.
  • Wishing you a very happy and prosperous Chinese New Year, [customer name]. Having your continued support means more to us with each passing year. Thank you for choosing us, and may this year be your best one yet!
  • Happy Chinese New Year to our valued partner! The past 12 months have been full of challenges and wins, and thank you for being there with us every step of the way. Let’s make the next 12 even better.

Funny CNY greetings for anyone close to you

For those who prefer a lighter and humorous approach to Chinese New Year greetings, ring in the New Year with some good laughs with these hilarious CNY greetings.

  • Live it up on this Chinese New Year's Eve — you've got the whole new year to live it down!
  • Let's hope this year brings you nothing but the best! But hey, spoiler alert: It’s going to feel the same.
  • Happy Chinese New Year, mate! If you'll just agree with everything I say, we can have a wonderful year together.
  • For all the troubles I brought you this year, I am truly sorry. May you still give me a shot this New Year to do it over and over again. Happy Chinese New Year!
  • Well, I’ve wasted another year and will waste more, but thank God I am doing this with you. Best of luck in 2024, friend!
  • May this New Year actually bring you a genuine transformation rather than merely a repackaging of your old habits. Cheers to the best Chinese New Year ever!
  • This year holds so much potential for you, and you stand to earn a great deal if you listen to my advice from time to time. Happy New Year, mate!
  • I can't believe there's already been another year for us to ruin, but I can't wait to start the cycle all over again. Sending you the best wishes for the Year of Dragon!
  • Here’s wishing your hopes and bills both get paid off this coming year. Happy Lunar New Year!
  • Let’s face it: you already have so much, that I have nothing good to wish you this year. Here’s to a great Chinese New Year…for me!

Wanna perfect your Chinese New Year greetings with a gift?

You can always use the above CNY wishes in your cards, emails, social media posts, and text messages, but attaching them to a thoughtful gift will make it even more meaningful and memorable.

Don’t show up at a Chinese New Year’s Eve party empty-handed; customise your own CNY Hamper with Build Your Gift Box, or shop from our range of Curated Gift Boxes. Pair it with a complimentary greeting card of your choice and we’ll handwrite all the sweet words for you.

For Chinese New Year gift ideas, read our CNY Gift Guide here! Cheers to 2024, friends!

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