Chinese word

新年

Pronunciation

Pinyinxīn nián

Meaning

  • nounNew Year

Example

祝你新年快乐。zhù nǐ xīn nián kuài lè

I wish you a happy New Year.

Illustration for 新年 (New Year)

More examples

大家在街上庆祝新年。dà jiā zài jiē shàng qìng zhù xīn nián

Everyone is celebrating the New Year in the street.

Core concept

The turning point where one year ends and the next begins, including its special day and holiday period.

Common phrases

  • 过新年guò xīn nián

    celebrate the New Year

  • 新年快乐xīn nián kuài lè

    Happy New Year

Similar words

年nián: The full period from the start of one year to the start of the next.

Definition in Chinese

新年是指一年新的开始，既可指公历的新年（元旦），也可在某些语境下指农历正月期间的庆祝活动。xīn nián shì zhǐ yì nián xīn de kāi shǐ jì kě zhǐ gōng lì de xīn nián yuán dàn yě kě zài mǒu xiē yǔ jìng xià zhǐ nóng lì zhēng yuè qī jiān de qìng zhù huó dòng

Word origin

新年 (xīnnián, "New Year") combines 新 (xīn, "new") with 年 (nián, "year"), so its meaning is the arrival of a new yearly cycle.

Usage tips

  • A Chinese sentence about gifts, visits, or greetings may use 新年 (xīnnián, "New Year") for the celebration period rather than only one calendar date.

Other meanings

  • New Year's Daynoun
  • New Year holidaysnoun

Related words

  • 新年晚会xīn nián wǎn huìNew Year's partynoun
  • 新年礼物xīn nián lǐ wùNew Year's giftnoun

Word lists with this word