As we stand at the beginning of 2025, with the much-anticipated Year of the Snake just around the corner, let’s explore the unique slangs that signify a wonderful start of the year together and feel the charm of the interweaving of the Chinese language and Chinese culture. Today, I’d like to share with you some really interesting slangs about a great start of the new year, so that you can easily master practical Chinese expressions while experiencing the new look of the new year.
1. 开门红 (Kāi mén hóng) – Get off to a good start
The phrase 开门红 (kāi mén hóng) literally translates to “red at the door,” symbolizing a successful beginning. Much like the opening act of an opera, achieving a bright start signifies a foundation for continued success and motivates further efforts.
The color red is deeply symbolic in Chinese culture, representing joy, celebration, and good fortune. This expression is often used in business and personal achievements.
Examples:
Wǒ men gōng sī zài xīn nián dì yī tiān jiù jiē dào le yī gè dà dìng dān.Zhè zhēn de shì kāi mén hóng，měi gè rén dōu chōng mǎn gàn jìn.
我们公司在新年第一天就接到了一个大订单。这真的是开门红，每个人都充满干劲。
Our company got a big order on the first day of the new year. It’s really get off to a good start and everyone is motivated.
Tā zài xué qī chū de bǐ sài zhōng huò dé le yī děng jiǎng.Zhè duì tā běn xué qī de xué xí lái shuō zhēn shì kāi mén hóng.
她在学期初的比赛中获得了一等奖。这对她本学期的学习来说真是开门红。
She won the first prize in the competition at the beginning of the semester. What get off to a good start for her study this term.
2. 福到啦 (Fú dào la) – Good fortune has arrived
During the Spring Festival, there is a traditional custom of pasting Spring Festival couplets and the character “福 (fú, happiness)” on paper. People will paste red paper with the character “福 (fú, happiness)” on doors, windows and other positions, and there is also the practice of pasting the character “福 (fú, happiness)” upside down. This is because the pronunciation of “倒 (dào, upside down)” is the same as that of “到 (dào, arrive)”, and pasting the character “福 (fú, happiness)” upside down implies that “good fortune has arrived”. When people see the character “福 (fú, happiness)” pasted upside down, they will happily say “福到啦 (fú dào la)”.
The character “福 (fú, happiness)” symbolizes happiness, auspiciousness and good luck, and “福到啦 (fú dào la)” vividly expresses that good fortune has come to us, full of people’s joyful expectations for the new year, as if the little elves of happiness have flown to our side all of a sudden.
Examples:
Dāng hái zi men kàn dào guà qǐ de hóng dēng long，tīng dào biān pào shēng，tā men gāo xìng de dà hǎn
当孩子们看到挂起的红灯笼，听到鞭炮声，他们高兴地大喊 “福到啦”。
When the children saw the red lanterns hung up and heard the firecrackers, they shouted happily good fortune has arrived.
Zài xīn nián bài nián shí，lín jū men wēi xiào zhe hù xiāng shuō
在新年拜年时，邻居们微笑着互相说 “福到啦”，分享着节日的温暖和美好祝愿。
During the New Year’s greetings, the neighbors smiled and said good fortune has arrived to each other, sharing the warmth and good wishes of the festival.
3. 瑞雪兆丰年 (Ruì xuě zhào fēng nián) – A timely snow promises a good harvest
瑞雪兆丰年 (Ruì xuě zhào fēng nián) indicates a bumper harvest of crops in the coming year. In Chinese culture, snow is like a natural protective cover, keeping the farmland warm, melting into water that nourishes the land, and also suppressing the breeding of pests. It reflects people’s beautiful expectations for agricultural harvest and a wealthy life from natural phenomena, and also reflects the ancient people’s profound insight into the connection between natural laws and life. It’s just like a big New Year gift package given to us by nature, full of expectations for a bumper harvest.
Examples:
Kàn wài miàn hòu hòu de xuě.Zhè shì gè hǎo zhào tóu.Ruì xuě zhào fēng nián，míng nián wǒ men kě néng huì yǒu dà fēng shōu.
看外面厚厚的雪。这是个好兆头。瑞雪兆丰年，明年我们可能会有大丰收。
Look at the thick snow outside. It’s a good sign. a timely snow promises a good harvest, and we might have a great harvest next year.
Lǎo nóng mín zài chūn jié qián xià xuě shí fēi cháng gāo xìng。Tā shuō：”Ruì xuě zhào fēng nián.Jīn nián jiāng shì nóng yè de hǎo nián jǐng.
老农民在春节前下雪时非常高兴。他说：“瑞雪兆丰年。今年将是农业的好年景。
The old farmer was very happy when it snowed before the Spring Festival. He said, a timely snow promises a good harvest. This year will be a good year for farming.
4. 年年有余 (Nián nián yǒu yú) -Having fish every year symbolizes prosperity and abundance
Because the pronunciation of “余 (yú, surplus)” is the same as that of “鱼 (yú, fish)”, having fish on the New Year’s table has become a traditional custom, symbolizing a prosperous life and having a surplus of wealth and food every year. 年年有余 (Nián nián yǒu yú) symbolizes the affluence of material life and the stability of family finances, carrying people’s longing and pursuit for a beautiful life, and is an expression of praying for the improvement of life quality in the New Year culture. It’s like we have stocked up on full wealth and happiness for our lives in the new year, making our days more and more prosperous.
Examples:
Zài zhōng guó xīn nián, jiā jiā hù hù dōu huì zuò yī tiáo dà yú, qí yuàn nián nián yǒu yú.
在中国新年，家家户户都会做一条大鱼，祈愿年年有余。
In the Chinese New Year, every family cooks a big fish and wishes for having fish every year symbolizes prosperity and abundance.
Nǎi nai zǒng shì shuō xīn nián cān zhuō shàng yǒu yú yì wèi zhe nián nián yǒu yú，suǒ yǐ wǒ men cóng bù huì wàng jì wèi nián yè fàn zhǔn bèi yú.
奶奶总是说新年餐桌上有鱼意味着年年有余，所以我们从不会忘记为年夜饭准备鱼。
Grandma always said that having fish on the New Year’s table means having fish every year symbolizes prosperity and abundance, so we never forget to prepare fish for the New Year’s Eve dinner.
Dive Deeper into Chinese Culture with eChineseLearning
These expressions not only improve your fluency but also deepen your understanding of Chinese culture and traditions. By incorporating these phrases into your conversations, you can better connect with Chinese friends and share in the festive spirit. It’s a small step toward mastering a language filled with richness and history.
Want to explore more about Chinese slangs and culture? Sign up for a free trial class with eChineseLearning and embark on a journey to master the language while immersing yourself in its timeless traditions. Let’s make this Year of the Snake a time of growth, connection, and joy!
