gung1 ho6 san1 hei1恭賀新禧恭贺新禧
Jyutpinggung1 ho6 san1 hei1
Yalegūng hoh sān hēi
Definition
Happy New Year; a congratulatory greeting used during the New Year.
colloquialfestival
How it's used
This is a formal, traditional expression used primarily during the Lunar New Year period. It carries a sense of respect and is most appropriate when greeting elders or in more formal social settings. In casual interactions with friends or peers, people typically opt for simpler greetings like 新年快樂.
Examples
Remember to say Happy New Year when you see your elders.
Did you go to your relatives' houses to wish them a Happy New Year this year?
Related words
Common phrases
say a Happy New Year greeting
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
