<p>Why translate? It's a Chinese new year. Leaving it untranslated adds the Chinese "taste" of this event.<br>
However, translating this is not inappropriate. It depends on the choice of the event host. </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-09-13T05:36:54.563Z
2016-09-13T05:36:54.563Z
Winfred Huang
<p>I agree with the previous answer that it adds the Chinese "taste" of the saying. You could compare it to hearing 'mazel tov' which has a much richer meaning than just 'good luck'. </p>

<p>Also, for Chinese people, various animals evoke different feelings for the upcoming year. For example...is it a good year to have a baby or a year to be cautious? Such cultural meaning doesn't come across in the English translation so it is easier to just translate as 'Happy New Year' if required.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-09-17T11:00:32.923Z
2016-09-17T11:00:32.923Z
Jason Werry
<p>In Taiwan, on January 1st, for every new year, at Taipei 101 or Kaohsiung Dream Mall they often have singers and other popular actor/actress say new year greetings. </p>

<p>Why are New year greetings are never translated (both creatively and literally). Here is an example of nba player Jeremy Lin in the New Years commercial using the phrase 猴年賀歲. Is it cultural? or are some things just better left untranslated since it is just a "greeting" and can be expressed with Happy New Years or  Happy Year of the Monkey.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3LEJKHc-f3c" rel="nofollow">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3LEJKHc-f3c</a></p>

<translation><usage><greetings>
Would it be appropriate to translate a Chinese New Year Greeting(s)
# Would it be appropriate to translate a Chinese New Year Greeting(s)

(Asked by: username_0 on 2016-09-02)

In Taiwan, on January 1st, for every new year, at Taipei 101 or Kaohsiung Dream Mall they often have singers and other popular actor/actress say new year greetings.

Why are New year greetings are never translated (both creatively and literally). Here is an example of nba player Jeremy Lin in the New Years commercial using the phrase 猴年賀歲. Is it cultural? or are some things just better left untranslated since it is just a "greeting" and can be expressed with Happy New Years or Happy Year of the Monkey.

<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3LEJKHc-f3c>

**Tags:** translation, usage, greetings

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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2016-09-13. Score: 0 | Accepted answer

Why translate? It's a Chinese new year. Leaving it untranslated adds the Chinese "taste" of this event.  
However, translating this is not inappropriate. It depends on the choice of the event host.


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### Answer by username_2 on 2016-09-17. Score: 0

I agree with the previous answer that it adds the Chinese "taste" of the saying. You could compare it to hearing 'mazel tov' which has a much richer meaning than just 'good luck'.

Also, for Chinese people, various animals evoke different feelings for the upcoming year. For example...is it a good year to have a baby or a year to be cautious? Such cultural meaning doesn't come across in the English translation so it is easier to just translate as 'Happy New Year' if required.


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