Chinese New Year Greetings for the Year of the Snake

As 2025 approaches, excitement builds for the upcoming Chinese New Year, which will usher in the Year of the Snake according to the Chinese zodiac. The Snake, the sixth animal in the cycle, symbolizes wisdom, intuition, and transformation. People born in the Year of the Snake are thought to be intelligent, perceptive, and graceful. As we prepare to welcome this auspicious year, it’s a great time to exchange greetings, blessings, and well wishes with family, friends, and colleagues.

Chinese New Year is a time to celebrate new beginnings, share prosperity, and express heartfelt good wishes. Whether you’re sending a card, writing a message, or delivering a toast, here’s a guide to the best Chinese New Year greetings for the Year of the Snake in 2025. These messages are filled with good fortune, health, and success—perfect for starting the year on a positive note.

1. “Gong Xi Fa Cai” (恭喜发财) – Wishing You Wealth and Prosperity

The most famous and widely used Chinese New Year greeting, “Gong Xi Fa Cai,” translates to “Wishing you wealth and prosperity.” This phrase is often exchanged among friends, family, and business colleagues, symbolizing the hope for a prosperous year ahead. It’s a wish for financial success and well-being, and it’s especially significant during the Lunar New Year when many people focus on starting fresh and building wealth.

For the Year of the Snake, this greeting carries even more weight as it represents the opportunity for personal and financial transformation. The Snake is a symbol of careful planning and strategic thinking—traits that often lead to prosperity.

2. “Xin Nian Kuai Le” (新年快乐) – Happy New Year

A simple but heartfelt greeting, “Xin Nian Kuai Le” means “Happy New Year.” This greeting can be used for anyone, regardless of age or relationship. It’s a classic way to extend well wishes and show your excitement for the start of a new year.

In 2025, the Year of the Snake will bring new opportunities for growth, and this greeting is a perfect way to wish everyone a joyful and successful start. It’s a universal expression of good cheer, making it ideal for sending to loved ones and acquaintances.

3. “Wan Shi Ru Yi” (万事如意) – May Everything Go as You Wish

“Wan Shi Ru Yi” is a traditional Chinese New Year blessing that translates to “May everything go as you wish.” This phrase is often used to wish for success, smooth sailing, and fulfillment of one’s goals. It’s especially appropriate for the Year of the Snake, as the Snake symbolizes a year of change, transformation, and calculated moves.

This greeting conveys the hope that the coming year will be free of obstacles and full of achievements. It’s perfect for someone who is embarking on a new endeavor or seeking personal growth and success.

4. “Shen Ti Jian Kang” (身体健康) – Wishing You Good Health

Health is highly valued in Chinese culture, and it’s common to exchange wishes for health during the Lunar New Year. “Shen Ti Jian Kang” means “Wishing you good health,” and it’s a lovely way to show care for your loved ones. As we enter the Year of the Snake, health and well-being remain essential for pursuing new goals and ambitions.

For friends, family, and colleagues, this greeting is a reminder that good health is the foundation of everything else. A healthy start to the year is one of the best wishes anyone can receive.

5. “Gui Yuan Gao Sheng” (贵人高升) – May You Rise Higher and Higher

This greeting translates to “May you rise higher and higher.” It is often used to wish someone success in their career or personal life. For the Year of the Snake, this greeting is particularly fitting, as the Snake is associated with wisdom, intuition, and the ability to rise above challenges.

The Snake is also known for its ability to shed its skin and reinvent itself. This symbolic renewal is a powerful message for anyone looking to advance in their personal or professional life. If you know someone who is hoping for a promotion, a new opportunity, or growth in their career, this greeting is a thoughtful choice.

6. “Tian Tian Kaixin” (天天开心) – May You Be Happy Every Day

In Chinese culture, happiness is considered one of the most important aspects of a fulfilling life. “Tian Tian Kaixin” means “May you be happy every day.” This warm greeting reflects the hope that every day of the year will be filled with joy and positivity.

As we enter the Year of the Snake, which represents wisdom and transformation, this greeting reminds us that happiness doesn’t just come from success or wealth—it also comes from inner peace and joy. It’s a perfect wish for anyone looking to enjoy a harmonious and fulfilling year.

7. “Nian Nian You Yu” (年年有余) – Wishing You Surplus Year After Year

“Nián Nián Yǒu Yú” translates to “May you have surplus year after year.” The word “yú” (余) sounds like “fish” in Chinese, which is a symbol of abundance and prosperity. This phrase is a common blessing for wealth, especially during Chinese New Year when people wish for surplus in both material and spiritual aspects.

For the Year of the Snake, which represents change and renewal, this message is a wish for an abundant year, one that goes beyond financial prosperity to include personal growth, wisdom, and love.

8. “Fú Xīng Gāo Zhào” (福星高照) – May the Lucky Star Shine Upon You

“Fú Xīng Gāo Zhào” translates to “May the lucky star shine upon you.” This greeting expresses a wish for good fortune and luck in the coming year. The Snake in the Chinese zodiac is associated with wisdom and intuition, so this greeting is particularly fitting as it invokes the hope that the recipient will have good fortune in both their personal and professional lives.

It’s a great way to wish someone a year filled with opportunities, good decisions, and the fortune to succeed in all their endeavors.

9. “Ji Xiang Ru Yi” (吉祥如意) – Wishing You Auspiciousness and Happiness

This greeting is a combination of good fortune and fulfillment. “Ji Xiang Ru Yi” means “May everything be auspicious and go as you wish.” It’s a blessing that expresses a desire for a smooth and successful year, one where everything falls into place.

The Year of the Snake is known for its wisdom and adaptability, making this message a perfect choice for someone who is facing a year of transition or seeking to achieve long-term goals.

10. “Xin Chun Kuai Le” (新春快乐) – Happy Spring Festival

“Xin Chun Kuai Le” means “Happy Spring Festival” and is often used to wish people a happy new year as the festival marks the arrival of spring. This greeting is great for anyone who enjoys the traditional Chinese New Year festivities, from family gatherings to feasts and celebrations.

As we embrace the Year of the Snake, this greeting is a way of celebrating renewal, growth, and fresh beginnings. Spring symbolizes a time of planting seeds for the future, making it a perfect message of hope and promise for the year ahead.

As we approach Chinese New Year 2025 and the Year of the Snake, it’s a wonderful time to send heartfelt greetings and well-wishes to those around us. The Snake represents wisdom, transformation, and new opportunities. These Chinese New Year greetings not only reflect these qualities but also convey hopes for prosperity, health, happiness, and success in the year ahead. Whether you’re sending messages to family, friends, or colleagues, these thoughtful words will help create a warm and joyful start to the Lunar New Year. May the Year of the Snake bring you all the wisdom, fortune, and transformation you desire!