How To Say Happy New Year In Chinese: 20 Inspirational Quotes, Sayings And Proverbs For Year Of The Monkey

Monday marks the beginning of the observance of the Chinese New Year — the Year of the Monkey — a time filled with big family meals, celebrations and the start of the plowing and sowing season.

Each Chinese New Year is symbolized by one of 12 Chinese zodiac symbols, with the monkey getting its turn this year, as reported by the Telegraph in the U.K. According to Chinese tradition, those born in the Year of the Monkey supposedly tend to be curious, lively, quick-witted and a wee bit mischievous on the positive side and supposedly tend to be jealous, selfish and suspicious on the negative side.

Aka the Spring Festival, the Chinese New Year is celebrated by those of Chinese descent around the world, even though China adopted the Western calendar in 1912, according to History.com. Seven days are public holidays in China around the time of the Chinese New Year, when families get together to exchange presents and eat lucky foods.

Many celebrants of the Chinese New Year consider it a time of renewal: Some buy new clothes, and others get haircuts.

For anybody interested in Chinese New Year festivities, below are some greetings, sayings and quotations to celebrate the Year of the Monkey.

Greetings

Good luck for this Monkey year.

猴年吉祥 (Hóunián jíxiáng)

Lots of luck for this Monkey year.

猴年大吉 (Hóunián dàjí)

Happy New Year.

新年好 (Xīnnián hǎo)

Sayings

May all your wishes come true.

心想事成 (Xīnxiǎng shì chéng)

Enjoy good health.

身体健康 (Shēntǐ jiànkāng)

Lots of luck and profits.

大吉大利 (Dàjí dàlì)

Prosperous business.

生意 兴 隆 (Shēngyì xīnglóng)

Quotations

“A good fortune may forebode a bad luck, which may in turn disguise a good fortune.”

“If you want one year of prosperity, grow grain. If you want 10 years of prosperity, grow trees. If you want 100 years of prosperity, grow people.”

“A single conversation with a wise man is better than 10 years of study.”

“A closed mind is like a closed book, just a block of wood.”

“If heaven made him, Earth can find some use for him.”

“Without sorrows, no one becomes a saint.”

“With virtue, you can’t be completely poor; without it, you can’t be truly rich.”

“To have principles, first have courage.”

“Honest scales and full measure hurt no one.”

“If you always give, you will always have.”

“If you hurry through long days, you will hurry through short years.”

“Simple to open a shop; another thing to keep it open.”

“Don’t waste your hour; the sun sets soon.”