Latest / Learn Cantonese with Fexingo / Cantonese New Year Greetings - Gong Hei Fat Choy
Transcript
- Lucas: Hey Luna, welcome back to Learn Cantonese with Fexingo! Luna: Hey Lucas, so glad to be here. What are we diving into today? Lucas: Well, Lunar New Year is coming up soon, so I thought we'd learn some classic New Year greetings in Cantonese. Luna: Oh perfect. I've always wanted to know how to say Gong Hei Fat Choy properly. Lucas: That's actually our first phrase: 恭喜發財. It's the most famous New Year wish. Luna: Wait, is that the one everyone says? Like 'congratulations and be rich'? Lucas: Exactly. It means 'wishing you wealth and prosperity.' Let me say it slowly: 恭喜發財. Luna: 恭喜發財. Lucas: Good! Now a bit faster: 恭喜發財. The tones are key. First syllable is high flat, second is high rising. Luna: 恭喜發財. I think I got it. So when do you say this? Lucas: You say it to anyone you meet during New Year — family, friends, even shopkeepers. Luna: And do they give you red envelopes? Lucas: Yes! The red envelope is called 利是. It's a gift of money for good luck. Luna: 利是. So if someone gives me one, I should say 恭喜發財? Lucas: That's right. Or you can also say 新年快樂, which means 'Happy New Year.' Let's add that. 新年快樂. Luna: 新年快樂. That sounds a bit like Mandarin. Lucas: It's similar, but the Cantonese pronunciation is different. 新年快樂. Try it. Luna: 新年快樂. Lucas: Perfect. Now there are two other common wishes: 身體健康 means 'good health,' and 心想事成 means 'may all your wishes come true.' Luna: That's a lot! Let me try: 身體健康, 心想事成. Lucas: Very good. 身體健康 — your tones are right on. 心想事成 is a bit trickier: 心想事成. Luna: 心想事成. I'll practice that. Lucas: You know, it's amazing how much you can say with just these phrases. Let's put them in a little scene. Luna: Okay, I'm ready. Lucas: Imagine I'm your uncle. You come to my house for New Year. You say: 恭喜發財! Then I give you a 利是. You say: 新年快樂, 身體健康. Luna: And if I want to be even more polite, I could add 心想事成. Lucas: Exactly. Let's practice that together. I'll be the uncle. You start. Luna: 恭喜發財! 新年快樂, 身體健康, 心想事成. Lucas: Wow, that was smooth. You sound like a native. Luna: Thanks! I've been practicing. Lucas: And you know, if Fexingo has been helping you make progress with Cantonese, and today's episode was worth a coffee to you, you can support us at buy me a coffee dot com slash fexingo. Just a little way to keep the show ad-free. Luna: Yeah, it really helps us keep going. Every bit is appreciated. Lucas: Alright, back to our phrases. Let's do a quick review. 恭喜發財. Luna: 恭喜發財. Lucas: 新年快樂. Luna: 新年快樂. Lucas: 利是. Luna: 利是. Lucas: 身體健康. Luna: 身體健康. Lucas: 心想事成. Luna: 心想事成. Lucas: Awesome. Now you're ready for Lunar New Year! Practice these and you'll impress your Cantonese-speaking friends. Luna: For sure. I can't wait to use them. Lucas: That's all for today. Thanks for learning with Fexingo. See you next time! Luna: Bye! 新年快樂!