gung1 hei2 faat3 coi4恭喜發財恭喜发财
Jyutpinggung1 hei2 faat3 coi4
Yalegūng héi faat chòih
Definition
A common greeting used during the Lunar New Year wishing someone prosperity and wealth.
colloquialfestival
How it's used
This phrase is strictly reserved for the Lunar New Year period and is typically exchanged between friends, family, and colleagues during the first few days of the festival. It is often accompanied by the gesture of cupping one hand in the other, known as gong sau. While it is the most iconic greeting, it is rarely used outside of this specific cultural window.
Examples
Happy New Year, wishing you prosperity!
Did you go and say Kung Hei Fat Choi to the elders this year?
Related words
Common phrases
Kung Hei Fat Choi, give me a red packet
Common mistake
Learners often mistakenly use this phrase as a generic way to wish someone success or wealth throughout the year, but it sounds very out of place if said at any time other than the Lunar New Year.
Grammar color guide
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Grammar guides
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
- How oftenUsually, sometimes, all the time, rarely, never. All five sit in one slot, between the subject and the verb.
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
