新年
xīn nián
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.
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xīn nián kuài lèHappy New Year
- 春节chūn jiéSpring Festival (Chinese New Year)
- 元旦yuán dànNew Year's Day (January 1st)
Examples
祝大家新年快乐！
zhù dà jiā xīn nián kuài lè ！
Wish everyone a Happy New Year!
新年新气象。
xīn nián xīn qì xiàng 。
New year, new atmosphere/outlook.
我们新年假期去旅行。
wǒ men xīn nián jià qī qù lǚ xíng 。
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
和平 · Peace钱 · Money闭嘴 · Shut up
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