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Red Envelope (红包) Guide
Learn the proper amounts and etiquette for giving red envelopes during Chinese New Year.
Quick Amount Guide
Common amounts by relationship
¥66
Smooth journey
¥88
Fortune
¥99
Eternal
¥168
Road to wealth
Amount Guidelines
How much to give by relationship
Close Family (子女)
¥666Lucky and smooth (一路顺)
¥888Double fortune (发发发)
¥999Eternal prosperity (长长久久)
¥1666Fortune and success
¥1888Great wealth
Grandparents (祖父母)
¥200Simple and sincere
¥500Respect and love
¥666Smooth journey
¥888Fortune blessings
Parents (父母)
¥521I love you (我爱你的谐音)
¥666Smooth and lucky
¥888Fortune blessings
¥999Eternal love
Children (小孩)
¥20Small blessing
¥50Good wishes
¥100Complete happiness
¥200Double joy
Relatives (亲戚)
¥100Good fortune
¥200Prosperity
¥300Fortune growth
¥500Abundant luck
Colleagues/Friends (同事朋友)
¥18Prosperity (要发)
¥20Smooth sailing
¥28Easy fortune
¥66Smooth success
Etiquette Tips
Proper ways to give and receive
✅
Do's
- Use crisp, new banknotes
- Give with both hands politely
- 数字 8 and 6 are lucky numbers
- Red envelopes symbolize good luck
- Give to unmarried people only
❌
Don'ts
- Avoid number 4 (sounds like 'death')
- Don't open the envelope in front of giver
- Avoid odd numbers (associated with funerals)
- Don't give to married people
- Avoid white or black colors
Lucky Numbers
数字 de 含义
8
八 - Wealth (发)
6
六 - Smooth (顺)
9
九 - Eternal (久)
2
双 - Pairs (好)
Useful Phrases
What to say when giving/receiving
祝您新年快乐，万事如意！
Zhù nín xīn nián kuài lè, wàn shì rú yì!
Happy New Year, may everything go your way!
给您拜年啦！
Gěi nín bài nián la!
I'm here to wish you a Happy New Year!
恭喜发财，红包拿来！
Gōng xǐ fā cái, hóng bāo ná lái!
Congratulations on your wealth, give me the red envelope!
祝您和家人新春快乐，阖家幸福！
Zhù nín hé jiā rén xīn chūn kuài lè, hé jiā xìng fú!
Wishing you and your family a happy Spring Festival!