Top 10: What Lunar New Year greeting do you prefer over ‘Gung Hei Fat Choi’?
As the Year of the Snake begins, Team Young Post and some readers share heartfelt wishes for health, prosperity and personal growth.
Celebrate the Year of the Snake with these unique Lunar New Year greetings. Photo: Dickson LeeThis week’s question: If you could invent a new holiday, what would it celebrate and what would you call it? To take part, drop us a line via this form by 12pm on Wednesday, February 5.
Happy Year of the Snake! As we all celebrate the start of a new year, Team YP and some students share their favourite Lunar New Year greetings besides the ever-popular “Gung Hei Fat Choi” and what makes them so special. Here are our picks and best wishes for a fantastic year!
Emily Tsang, Young Post Editor: The Year of the Snake has arrived, and I’ve heard some clever expressions that capture the essence of the snake. One popular wish is Ling How Cheung Sher (靈巧像蛇), meaning to be as agile as a snake, which perfectly blends aspiration and practicality. However, my favourite is the more playful Yuet Yuet Sher Wong (日日蛇王), which translates into “day snake king”. It essentially means “lazy every day”. This humorous twist highlights the snake’s reputation for a more relaxed pace of life.
Esther Cheung, Young Post Deputy Editor: Chut Yap Ping On (出入平安), meaning to have peace and safety wherever you go. The first two characters mean “leaving” and “entering”, so I also feel like the phrase can represent peace entering and leaving myself. I hope to have a sense of calm within me while also sharing that with others this year.
Dannie Aildasani, Young Post Production Editor: Snakes often have a negative reputation, but for the Year of the Snake, I want to highlight their positive qualities and what we can learn from them. I plan to wish people things like, “Like the snake, I hope you can shed whatever isn’t serving you in the new year!” and “May you slither into the new year with happiness and peace.”
Kelly Fung, Young Post Senior Reporter: For the Year of the Snake, I’ve chosen Sum Shing Chuk Ling (心誠則寧) as my Lunar New Year greeting. This translates to “a sincere heart brings peace”. Instead of wishing for more fortune, I believe that sincerity and inner peace are what truly matter. This phrase serves as a reminder that true peace of mind doesn’t come from external circumstances but from a pure and honest heart.
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Doris Wai, Young Post Content Specialist: I’ve been hearing Yu Sher Tim Yik (如蛇添翼) a lot these days and I like what it means – to have strength and success, like a snake with wings. We can all use some of those “wings”, whether a new skill or more confidence, to help us navigate the challenges ahead and crush them in the new year.
Kathryn Giordano, Young Post Reporter: When I think of the Year of the Snake, I immediately think of my sister, who was born in that year. As an older sibling, I always want to look out for and protect my younger sister. I hope she receives guidance, direction and compassion – qualities that I believe all young people can benefit from.
Ruchi Shah, Young Post Production Editor: Happy New Year of the Snake, everyone! I wish all my loved ones a year filled with good health, as it is the greatest form of wealth anyone can possess. A healthy life is the best gift you can give yourself.
Sakina Abidi, Young Post Production Editor: I like the phrase Fai Gou Jeung Dai (快高長大), which means “grow taller and bigger quickly”. It reminds me of a Hindi-Urdu phrase that my parents and relatives would say to me while I was growing up. Whenever I greeted them, they would respond with jeeti raho, badi ho jao, lambi ho jao, meaning “live long and become bigger and taller”. Now that I’m older and have reached my full height, they are more likely to say hamesha khush raho, meaning “Stay happy always”.
Leah Lei Lok-ching, 16, Cognitio College (Kowloon): Ching Chung Sheung Chu (青春常駐), meaning “to stay young forever”, is an often overlooked New Year’s wish. Youth is fleeting yet beautiful – a unique period in life when we can be fearless, pursue our dreams and defy expectations. Life moves quickly, and that passionate spirit doesn’t always last. This new year, take a moment to write, create and leave a mark of who you are at this moment. Those memories will remind you one day that your youth lives on in your heart forever.
Matilda, 14, Malvern College Hong Kong: Sun Tai Kin Hong (身體健康) means “good health”. I got sick more than seven times in 2024. I missed many things, such as my friend’s birthday party, a concert and many more. Hopefully, I won’t get sick too much this year – I have exams soon.