Do you believe in luck? Whether you do or you don’t, each one of us has a saying or two that we hold on to and think to bring good luck to the New Year. This is true with our Asian friends preparing to celebrate the Lunar New Year, aka the Chinese New Year.
While red envelopes and tangerines remain popular traditions for this celebration, the real magic lies in the exchange of greetings. But, don’t fret if you’re at a loss for Chinese New Year sayings — we got you covered.
Choose from this collection of classical and contemporary Chinese New Year sayings that your Asian friends can relate to.
1. “Time makes one wise. Ask advice from someone older than you.”
2. “Radiate happiness and harmony for a joyous Chinese New Year.”
3. “May your new year begin with joy and end in beauty.”
4. “A cynic is only a frustrated optimist.”
5. “Like a bamboo, bend but never break in the winds of change.”
6. “May you plant seeds of kindness that blossom into joy.”
7. “Shed old habits and embrace new beginnings—just like a snake!”
8. “Auspicious greetings for a prosperous start of the year.”
9. “A closed mouth gathers no feet.”
10. “The blessing of the new year goes in all directions, and the same joy promotes harmony and joy.”
11. “Don’t cut pears, eat them whole.”
12. “The snake moves with purpose—may your journey this year be just as deliberate.”
13. “Shed what no longer serves you and embrace the renewal ahead.”
14. “You will soon be crossed by a chicken. Beware!”
15. “Eat your veggies and you’ll turn into a giant radish.”
16. “Things will happen as you wish.”
17. “Be happy and carry laughter all the time.”
18. “This year, don’t hiss at opportunities—grab them by the tail!”
19. “The blessing of the Spring Festival surrounds me, and the blessing of the new year lights up the whole family.”
20. “You will live long enough to open many fortune cookies.”
21. “Like the phoenix, rise stronger with every challenge.”
22. “May your dumplings always be filled, and your wallet never empty.”
23. “You will soon discover that this fortune cookie is empty.”
24. “New Year, new me—until the dumplings are served!”
25. “If you eat something and no one sees you eat it, it has no calories.”
26. “May your fortunes be as sweet as the cookies that predict them.”
27. “Celebrate the Spring Festival with blessings in the house, and the new year is joyful and spring is coming to every family.”
28. “May your happiness be like sticky rice: hard to separate and ever-present.”
29. “May your year be as delightful as finding an extra spring roll in your takeout.”
30. “May you have a bountiful harvest of success and joy.”
31. “Don’t chase chickens, but do chase success this year!”
32. “As we bid farewell to the old and welcome the new, may joy and fortune be ever-present in your life.”
33. “Error 404: Fortune not found.”
34. “In the glow of lanterns, may your heart find peace and joy.”
35. “Wishing you the strength of bamboo to bend but not break in life’s storms.”
36. “As the fireworks light up the sky, let them symbolize the sparks of inspiration that will ignite your dreams in the coming year.”
37. “Luck and prosperity at the door, all goes well!”
38. “In stillness, the snake finds strength—find your center and excel.”
39. “The journey is as important as the destination—walk it with gratitude.”
40. “May the spring wind fill your life with abundance and happiness.”
41. “May your wealth grow like flowing water.”
42. “This year, be as intuitive as the snake and sense opportunities before they arrive.”
43. “He who asks a question is a fool for a minute; he who does not remains a fool forever.”
44. “The snake teaches us that growth requires shedding—let go and move forward.”
45. “Never forget a friend. Especially if he owes you.”
46. “This year, let your heart shine like a thousand lanterns.”
47. “May your health be as robust as the mighty bamboo, standing tall through all seasons.”
48. “A good fortune may forbode a bad luck, which may, in turn, disguise a good fortune.”
49. “You cannot prevent the birds of sorrow from flying over your head, but you can prevent them from building nests in your hair.”
50. “Wishing your business flourishes like spring flowers.”
51. “The beauty of the snake is in its ability to transform—so can you.”
52. “Like the snake guarding treasure, protect your dreams fiercely.”
53. “Joyous spring sunshine and lots of luck.”
54. “If you want to avoid being cheated, ask for prices at three different stores.”
55. “Longevity and vitality forever.”
56. “Gong Xi Fa Cai! May the melody of prosperity and good luck resonate in your life.”
57. “Forget resolutions—focus on eating all the spring rolls!”
58. “A foolish man listens to his heart. A wise man listens to cookies.”
59. “A conclusion is simply the place where you got tired of thinking.”
60. “Hard work pays off in the future. Laziness pays off now.”
61. “Spring into success this New Year like a rabbit on the move!”
62. “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a well-packed bag.”
63. “You will make change for the better.”
64. “Don’t scale back your dreams this year—go big or go home!”
65. “Your greatest fortune is the large number of friends you have.”
66. “A fresh start will put you on your way.”
67. “Change is happening in your life, so go with the flow!”
68. “Better to ask twice than lose your way once.”
69. “If you want the rainbow, you have to tolerate the rain.”
70. “New Year, new stories to write—make each chapter beautiful.”
71. “This year, stay sharp—just like a snake’s focus on its prey.”
72. “Magnificent wishes for a year of endless blessings.”
73. “A great fortune in the hands of a fool is a great misfortune.”
74. “May the blossoms of good fortune and happiness bloom in your life throughout the Chinese New Year.”
75. “Family is the treasure of every New Year—cherish it with all your heart.”
76. “Let your inner rabbit bring you swift success and boundless energy!”
77. “Let’s make this New Year so great, even the snakes can’t help but smile!”
78. “May the New Year bring infinite blessings and peace.”
79. “Let the lanterns of the New Year illuminate your path to success and harmony.”
80. “May your wisdom grow deeper, like the roots of an ancient tree.”
81. “Even the darkest night ends with the light of a New Year.”
Fortune and Friendship: Celebrating with Chinese Wisdom
Not all may celebrate the Chinese New Year, but for those who do, to receive greetings of luck, prosperity, and hope is something to look forward to. It’s highly appreciated if you as their friend take part in this tradition that brings the community together.
After all, these Chinese New Year sayings aren’t just empty words. They’re centuries of hope and good wishes you’re passing along for all generations to glean wisdom from.
Hey fellow Linguaholics! It’s me, Marcel. I am the proud owner of linguaholic.com. Languages have always been my passion and I have studied Linguistics, Computational Linguistics and Sinology at the University of Zurich. It is my utmost pleasure to share with all of you guys what I know about languages and linguistics in general.