新年
xīnnián
New year
新年 (xīnnián) means "new year" and is a general term used to refer to the start of a new year. It's commonly used for the Gregorian New Year (January 1st) and in various new year greetings.
What does 新年 (xīnnián) mean?
新年 (xīnnián) means “New Year” in English.
When to use it
Neutral. The most common greeting is 新年快乐 (xīnnián kuàilè), "Happy New Year." While 新年 can refer to any new year, for the Lunar New Year (Chinese New Year), people often use 春节 (chūnjié) and say 春节快乐 or 恭喜发财.
How to pronounce it
Sounds like "sheen-NYEN." Both syllables are first tones, meaning they are pronounced high and flat.
Other ways to say it
- 新年快乐xīnnián kuàilèHappy New Year
- 春节ChūnjiéSpring Festival (Chinese New Year)
- 元旦YuándànNew Year's Day (January 1st)
Examples
祝大家新年快乐！
zhù dàjiā xīnnián kuàilè!
Wish everyone a Happy New Year!
新年新气象。
xīnnián xīn qìxiàng.
New year, new atmosphere/outlook.
我们新年假期去旅行。
wǒmen xīnnián jiàqī qù lǚxíng.
We're traveling during the New Year holiday.
Pro tip: When Chinese people say "新年," they usually refer to the Gregorian New Year (January 1st). For the traditional Lunar New Year, they more often use 春节 (Spring Festival).
Related phrases
生日 · Birthday粉红色的龙 · Pink dragon请帮忙 · Please help
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