One of the most common greetings you are likely to hear during Chinese New Year is Gōng Xǐ Fā Cái, which literally translates into "Best Wishes and Greetings, Much Wealth and Prosperity" for the coming year.
And here we will teach you how to write it in Chinese stroke by stroke so you can draw your own greeting cards, or make some banners to hang in your home.
Vertical banners are placed side by side at entrances, gates and doors to welcome guests and wish everyone a happy, healthy, wealthy New Year and let all that good fortune usher through your door!
All four characters are easy to write. These are the simplified characters, even though a couple might look a bit daunting, just trace them slowly following each stroke, and remember practice makes perfect!
Gōng is our first character, as a standalone it means literally "respectful".
Gōng |
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Xǐ means to like, to enjoy, to be happy as well as joy, happiness, delight. The phrase Gōng Xǐ means "Congratulations" or "Greetings"
Xǐ |
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The third character Fā literally means to "develop", to "become" as well as to "show" one's feelings. It's a simple one with only 5 strokes:
Fā | ||||
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That leaves us with the last one Cái, a very useful one: wealth, riches, prosperity! And thus the phrase, Fā Cái means to "develop" wealth, or become rich and prosper.
Cái | ||||
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And there you have it!
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For a more literal translation of HAPPY NEW YEAR, we say:
Xīn Nián Kuài Lè!!!!
More Easy Chinese Crafts - Try these next!
filling each day with peak of health...
abundance of happiness...
bountiful prosperity...
and Zen like serenity...
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