The world is celebrating the biggest Chinese annual festival, Chinese New Year or ‘Spring Festival’ on February 5, 2019. It marks the beginning of the Year of The Pig, according to Chinese astrology, in which each year is related to a Chinese zodiac animal according to the 12-year cycle. As per traditional Chinese Lunar Calendar, it celebrates the beginning of a new year. In mainland China, Chinese New Year is also known as chunjie (春节) or Spring Festival. It is huge deal. And like any other celebrations and festivities, wishes and greetings play an important role. One can give a more personal touch by wishing in native languages. But how to wish ‘Happy Chinese New Year 2019’ in Chinese? Well, today we will share with you a few phrases apart from “Gung Hay Fat Choy” or "Kung Hei Fat Choi" in Cantonese and Mandarin to wish your friends and colleagues on Chinese New Year 2019. Chinese New Year 2019 Date: Significance, Customs And Celebrations Related to Year of Pig.

“Gung Hay Fat Choy” or "Kung Hei Fat Choi" is one of the most commonly heard phrases when it comes to Chinese greetings. Well, here’s a little news for you all – it does not translate to ‘Happy New Year’ or ‘Happy Chinese New Year’. “Gung Hay Fat Choy” literally means "wishing you great happiness and prosperity," in Cantonese, which is widely spoken by Chinese living overseas. the most simple way to say Happy New Year in Chinese is "新年快乐 (xīn nián kuài lè). The official language in China is Mandarin. While Cantonese is a variety of Chinese spoken in the city of Guangzhou and its surrounding area in southeastern China. Chinese New Year 2019 Date: Which Animal Is It This Year? What Is Your Chinese Zodiac Animal?

CNY 2019 Greeting (Photo Credits: Unsplash)
CNY 2019 Greeting (Photo Credits: Unsplash)

“Gong xi fa cai” (pronounced gong she fa tsai) is how a person speaking Mandarin will wish you a Happy New Year. It also translates to "wishing you to be prosperous in the coming year." Keep on reading for more CNY greetings, messages, wishes, quotes and phrases with images to wish in the Year of the Pig. Lucky Food for Chinese New Year 2019: Eat These 5 Dishes for Wealth, Prosperity and Good Luck in the Year of the Pig.

How does one wish ‘Happy New Year’ in Mandarin? “xīn nián kuài lè” is how you can wish someone ‘Happy New Year’ in this language. We will break up the phrase with their literal translation – “Xin” is ‘New’ and “Nian” is ‘Year.’ As for “Kuai le” (快樂) stands for happiness, joy, delight, or rejoicings. Chinese New Year 2019: What Does It Mean to Be Born in the Year of the Pig?

Chinese New Year, which is also popularly called ‘Spring Festival’ has few greetings on it. In Mandarin, a person can wish “Happy Spring Festival” by saying (春节快乐) “chūn jiē kuài lè.” And if you want to wish the same in Cantonese, you can do so by writing or saying, “ceon1 zit3 faai3 lok6!”

Learn How to Wish 'Happy Chinese New Year' in Chinese (Watch Video)

There are so many phrases that you can incorporate in your Chinese New Year greetings and wishes. Some of them are – “fú lùshòu” that stands for “Happiness, prosperity, longevity,” “dà jí dà lì” (大吉大利) for great luck, great profit, “jí xiánɡ rú yì” (吉祥如意) for “good luck and happiness to you,” “ɡōnɡ xǐ fā cái” (恭喜发财) for “May you be happy and prosperous” and so on. Go on and learn how to say “Happy New Year” in Chinese and wish your friends on the occasion of Chinese New Year 2019. They will truly appreciate your efforts. Meanwhile, China will be observing public holidays from February 4 to 10.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Feb 05, 2019 09:24 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).