恭喜发财

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Contents

Cantonese[edit]

simpl. 恭喜发财
trad. 恭喜發財

Pronunciation[edit]

  • Jyutping: gung1 hei2 faat3 coi4
    (Guangzhou) IPA: /kʊŋ⁵³ hei³⁵ fɑːt̚³ t͡sʰɔːi²¹/
    (Hong Kong) IPA: /kʊŋ⁵⁵ hei³⁵ fɑːt̚³ t͡sʰɔːi²¹/

Phrase[edit]

恭喜发财 (simplified, Romanization gung1 hei2 faat3 choi4, traditional 恭喜發財)

  1. Happy New Year (Congratulations and best wishes for a prosperous New Year!)

Mandarin[edit]

simpl. 恭喜发财
trad. 恭喜發財

Etymology[edit]

From 恭喜 ("to congratulate, respectfully wishing one joy") + 发财 ("to become rich, to make money"). Literally, "congratulations for becoming rich". Originated in post-Opium War Guangzhou Cantonese, now a general Chinese phrase.

Pronunciation[edit]

  • (Beijing) IPA: /kʊŋ⁵⁵ ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹¹ fa⁵⁵ t͡sʰaɪ̯³⁵/
  • (Tianjin) IPA: /kʊŋ²¹ ɕi²¹⁴⁻²⁴ fa²¹ t͡sʰaɪ̯⁴⁵/

Phrase[edit]

恭喜发财 (simplified, Pinyin gōngxǐ fācái, traditional 恭喜發財)

  1. Happy New Year (congratulations and best wishes for a prosperous New Year)

References[edit]

  • 1997, Jerome P. Keuper, Chinese 1000: Idiomatic and Colloquial Expressions (中国话:习惯用法和口语的表达法) (in English/Mandarin), Florida: Krieger Publishing Company, ISBN 1-57524-006-8: