san1新nin4年
New Year
san1新nin4年ngo5我dei6哋jat1一gaa1家jan4人jat1一cai4齊sik6食faan6飯。
At New Year our whole family eats together.
Learn
Chinese New Year
Talk about Chinese New Year: red packets, visiting family, celebrating, and taking time off
Learn the Cantonese for New Year, Red packet, To pay a New Year visit, To celebrate New Year, To have time off. This lesson gives you each word with a clear example and romanization, plus audio so you can hear exactly how it sounds.
What you'll learn
- New Year: 新年 (san1 nin4)
- Red packet: 利是 (lai6 si6)
- To pay a New Year visit: 拜年 (baai3 nin4)
- To celebrate New Year: 過年 (gwo3 nin4)
- To have time off: 放假 (fong3 gaa3)
You can already talk about birthdays and parties. Now let's celebrate the biggest event of the year in Hong Kong: Chinese New Year, with red packets, family visits, and time off work.
lai6利si6是
Red packet
sai3細lou6路zai2仔zeoi3最zung1鍾ji3意sau1收lai6利si6是。
Kids love getting red packets the most.
baai3拜nin4年
To pay a New Year visit
ting1聽jat6日ngo5我dei6哋heoi3去po4婆po2婆uk1屋kei2企baai3拜nin4年。
Tomorrow we are going to grandma’s home to pay a New Year visit.
gwo3過nin4年
To celebrate New Year
hou2好do1多jan4人zung1鍾ji3意faan1返uk1屋kei2企gwo3過nin4年。
A lot of people like to go home to celebrate New Year.
fong3放gaa3假
To have time off
san1新nin4年fong3放gaa3假，m4唔sai2使faan1返gung1工。
At New Year we have time off, no need to go to work.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Chinese New Year lesson free?
Yes. This Cantonese lesson is free to read online, with romanization and meanings for every word. In the YumCha app, your first lesson is free to try, and vocabulary practice, flashcards, and the dictionary stay free. A subscription unlocks the full interactive lesson path.
Which words does Chinese New Year teach in Cantonese?
This lesson covers New Year, Red packet, To pay a New Year visit, To celebrate New Year, To have time off.
What romanization is used?
Both Jyutping and Yale, and you can switch between them. The romanization sits above every word, so you always know the pronunciation.
Do I need to read Chinese characters to start?
No. Romanization sits above every character and audio plays each word, so you can start speaking from your first lesson.