Popular 5 Ways to Say Happy New Year in Cantonese (2026)

Heading into the 2026 Lunar New Year, you might find that a simple ‘Happy New Year’ doesn’t quite capture the energy of the celebrations—especially in a Cantonese-speaking community. From Hong Kong to Chinatowns worldwide, Cantonese greetings are the heartbeat of the festival. If you want to impress your relatives or surprise your friends this year, learning these 5 popular Cantonese expressions is the perfect place to start.

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How Do You Say Happy New Year in Cantonese

Let’s begin the journey of exploring how do you say Happy New Year in Cantonese!

1. 恭喜發財 Gong Hei Faat Choy （恭喜发财）

Meaning: Sending you well-being and financial gains.

“Gong hei faat choy,” one of the most prevalent Chinese New Year wishes in Chinese communities worldwide, is often shouted as soon as two Chinese people extend their welcomes to one another.

It is frequently used in conjunction with the well-known salutation “sun tai gin hong” (身櫕健康), which denotes good health. When you originally meet someone, give them a “gong hei faat choy” while making the fist or palm salutation!

2. 新年快樂 Sun Nin Fai Lok（新年快乐）

Meaning: Have a wonderful New Year!

To elaborate, you can say “sun nin fai lok” to anybody during the Chinese New Year. It’s a very adaptable Chinese New Year wish that you can use the same way you would say “Happy New Year” to others.

3. 學業怲步 hok yip jun bou（学业进步）

Meaning: Advancement in research

In Cantonese, this phrase directly translates to wishing you pleasure and prosperity.” Best wishes for good fortune and wealth. For the start of the Lunar Year, which often occurs in January, it’s a well-liked option.

4. 身體健康 San Tai Gin Hong（身体健康）

Meaning: Wishing you good health!

To elaborate: In Cantonese culture, health is considered the greatest form of wealth. This is one of the most respectful and thoughtful greetings you can give, especially to elders like grandparents or parents. It shows that you genuinely care about their well-being in the coming year.

5. 大吉大利 : Dai gut dai lei

Meaning: Wishing you luck and good sailing.

In addition to luck, the second character, “gut” (吉), also indicates tangerines, so depictions of them are frequently seen with this greeting. “Dai gut dai lei,” another well-liked and adaptable Chinese New Year welcome, is also one of the simplest to write! 

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Summary

This article works as a Cantonese New Year guidebook. It teaches you how do you say Happy New Year in Cantonese in different ways, like “Gong Hei Faat Choy” and “Sun Nin Fai Lok.” It also gives you cool phrases to wish for good things, like success in studies or growing taller. However, if you want to go beyond the Cantonese wishes and want to excel in the Cantonese language, WuKong has covered you! Visit the official website to enroll in your desired language learning course and learn to say Happy New Year in Cantonese! With WuKong Education, kids aged 3 to 18 can learn Chinese online from native speakers with a deep understanding of the Chinese language and culture.

Bella | WuKong Chinese Teacher

Bella holds a Master’s degree from Yangzhou University and brings 10 years of extensive experience in K-12 Chinese language teaching and research. A published scholar, she has contributed over 10 papers to the field of language and literature. Currently, Bella leads the research and development of WuKong Chinese core courses, where she prioritizes academic rigor alongside student engagement and cognitive development. She is dedicated to building a robust foundation for young learners covering phonetics (Pinyin), characters, idioms, and classical culture while ensuring that advanced courses empower students with comprehensive linguistic mastery and cultural insight.