aat3 seoi3 cin4壓歲錢压岁钱
Jyutpingaat3 seoi3 cin4
Yaleaat seui chìhn
Definition
Lucky money given to the younger generation by elders in red envelopes during Chinese New Year.
colloquialfestivalmoney
How it's used
Most people in Hong Kong simply refer to this as 利是. Using the term 壓歲錢 is understood, but it carries a slightly more formal or traditional nuance often associated with cultural practices in Northern China or literary contexts. In local daily life, you will almost exclusively hear people talk about 利是 regardless of whether it is given to children or between adults.
Measure word
fung1封fūngExamples
How much lucky money did you receive this year?
When I was little, the happiest thing was receiving lucky money.
Related words
Common phrases
to receive lucky money
to give out lucky money
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the general term 利是. While 壓歲錢 specifically refers to money given to children for the New Year, 利是 is the universal term for any red packet given for weddings, birthdays, or business bonuses.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
