Congratulations, Get Rich!

It’s Chinese new year and the streets (and Facebook) reverberates to foreigners calling out to each other: “KUNG hei fat choi!” For one thing it should be GUNG hei, but hey. The tradition of spelling every word starting with G with a K started ages ago. But also I don’t think most of them understand what it means. I think many assume that “gung hei” means happy and “fat choi” new year. But actually, it means “congratulations, get rich” or word by word “bless, happiness, generate, wealth”.

So you can use Gung Hei all year round when you want to congratulate someone.

But there are hundreds (dozens?) of new year greetings. All this week I’ve been having greeting-outs with my neighbours. After two or three greetings they normally give up (they have noodles to eat, money to collect) but I can keep it going for up to 20 greetings.

By the way, next time someone says Gung Hei Fat Choi, you could answer: “Lai Si Dau Loy” (meaning: Gimme money! Only say this to people you know.)

Here are some tools in your new year-greetings armory: (I think we should start saying them in English!)

身體健康 San Tai Gin Hong – Body Healthy!

龍馬精神 Long Ma Jeng San – Dragon Horse Energy!

心想事成 Sam Seung Si Seng – Heart Wish Things Become! (May everything your heart desires become reality)

萬事如意 Maan Si Yu Yi – 10,000 things As Wish

笑口常開 Siu Hau Seung Hoi – Smile Mouth Often Open

Yeah! Smile mouth often open everybody, and if you want to learn more excellent new year or other expressions, please take lessons from me! Your life will be transformed in only two hours and 13 minutes.