Chinese New Year festivities are fun but also frazzling, especially if you’re unprepared for the cacophony of noises and the flurry of events permeating homes and streets. But fear not; I’ve rounded up a list of fail-safe greetings that will keep you well-prepared for all the prospective red packets you run into. From homophonic sayings for the Year of the Dragon to wishes of wealth and health for elders and more lighthearted greetings for friends – it’s time to wow your friends and family.

Tip: In Chinese culture, auspicious things come in even numbers (成雙成對), so go for a double whammy with two greetings – they sound more poetic anyway. Certain characters will also keep popping up in different greetings with highly similar meanings; after all, there are only as many auspicious words. If in doubt, pick ones from different categories to cover all your bases.

Greetings for 2024, the Year of the Dragon

As the only mythological Chinese zodiac animal, the dragon has one of the highest status and has traditionally been associated with many auspicious omens.

• 龍年大吉 – Wishing you luck for the Year of the Dragon

• 龍年賀喜 – Greetings for the Year of the Dragon

• 龍馬精神 – May you be strong and energetic like dragons and horses

• 龍瑞盈門 – May auspiciousness fill your house in the Year of the Dragon

• 龍飛鳳舞 – May your arts be majestic and full of vigour

• 龍年行大運 – May you have good luck in the Year of the Dragon

• 龍年進寶 – May you attract prosperity in the Year of the Dragon

• 生意興隆(龍) – May business boom (“boom” in Cantonese is homophonic with “dragon”)

General Greetings

• 新年快樂 – May your new year be joyful

• 恭喜發財 – May you have prosperity and good fortune

• 新年大吉 – May you have luck for the new year

• 大吉大利 – May you have good luck with much profits

For Wealth

• 財源廣進 – May wealth and prosperity roll in

• 招財進寶 – May you attract wealth and prosperity

• 富貴有餘 – May you be wealthy with abundance to spare

• 年年有餘 – May you have surplus and abundance year after year

For Health

• 身體健康 – May you have good health

• 闔家平安 – May your entire family be safe and well

• 歲歲平安 – May you have peace at every age

• 快高長大 – May you grow tall and mighty soon 

For Happiness

• 笑口常開 – May you be joyful and laugh often

• 萬事如意 – May all go well with you

• 心想事成 – May all your wishes come true

• 五福臨門 – May the five blessings (longevity, wealth, health, virtue, and a natural death) come to you

For Ambition

• 一帆風順 – May all your endeavours be smooth 

• 步步高升 – May you progress swiftly

• 前程似錦 – May your future be bright

• 飛黃騰達 – May you advance rapidly in your career

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