<p>春节 is commonly used. 农历新年, 阴历年, etc. are rare.</p>

<p>Another common expression is simply 年, but it usually needs to be used in context,  e.g. 过年, 拜年, 大年初一, etc. </p>

<p>More example: '年味', '你的年打算怎么过？' </p>

<p>Note the last example, it is not 'How do you plan to spend this year?', but 'How do you plan to celebrate the Spring Festival?' See <a href="http://news.xinhuanet.com/city/2012-01/20/c_122610924.htm" rel="nofollow">http://news.xinhuanet.com/city/2012-01/20/c_122610924.htm</a> for a real usage example.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-04-13T04:29:29.613Z
Why do you think this answer would be useful when 1) The question was resolved three months ago; and 2) Two-thirds of your answer is exactly the same as the accepted answer, and the remaining one-third is completely wrong? (The 年 in "过年, 拜年, 大年初一" does not refer to the festival, just as the word in "新年" does not refer to the festival. It simply means year.)
Yang
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-04-13T06:10:19.550Z
I answered because the only other answer missed one very common and important expression: '年'. Check http://baike.baidu.com/view/19365.htm#sub7694482. Your understanding is wrong.
Betty
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-04-13T09:01:00.087Z
@X.Yang The first point has no reason actually. You can answer even answered questions and if a new answer is better, I can even change my accepted answer. :) I'm not sure about the second point, but the first is wrong.
Alenanno
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-04-13T09:01:56.467Z
@Betty You can answer any question, no matter how many answers it has, as long as you genuinely think you're "answering" and not just "commenting" (that would be a comment). :)
Alenanno
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-04-13T03:52:24.917Z
2012-04-13T06:16:14.287Z
2012-04-13T06:16:14.287Z
Betty
<p>The most common expression should be 春节.</p>

<p>农历新年 is a kind of rare.</p>

<p>We have another word for January 1st (not spring festival), 元旦(yuan2 dan4). So 新年 is normally the Chinese New Year.</p>

<p>Another expression is 阳历年(yang2 li4 nian2) for January 1st, 阴历年(yin1 li4 nian2) for spring festival. 阳历年 may be used more often, as 阴历年 is the default.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-01-16T16:47:30.267Z
2012-01-16T16:47:30.267Z
fefe
<p>In relation to the Chinese New Year (or Spring Festival) I've heard different names, as you can see from what I just wrote.</p>
<p>In Chinese we have:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>春節 / 春节 = Spring Festival<br />
<sub>Chūn jié</sub></p>
<p>農曆新年 / 农历新年 = Chinese New Year<br />
<sub>Nóng lì xīn nián</sub></p>
</blockquote>
<p>or simply (more general)</p>
<blockquote>
<p>新年 = New Year</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Apart from the last one, which I doubt is the most used when referring <em>specifically</em> to the Chinese New Year, which one is the most common expression in China? And are these the only ones?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-01-18T22:52:50.200Z
@ciaocibai: I included the other wording too. Now it's even clearer. :D
Alenanno
<expressions>
Which expression do native speakers actually use: Chinese New Year or Spring Festival (or other)?
# Which expression do native speakers actually use: Chinese New Year or Spring Festival (or other)?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2012-01-16)

In relation to the Chinese New Year (or Spring Festival) I've heard different names, as you can see from what I just wrote.

In Chinese we have:

> 春節 / 春节 = Spring Festival  
> Chūn jié
>
> 農曆新年 / 农历新年 = Chinese New Year  
> Nóng lì xīn nián

or simply (more general)

> 新年 = New Year

Apart from the last one, which I doubt is the most used when referring *specifically* to the Chinese New Year, which one is the most common expression in China? And are these the only ones?

**Tags:** expressions
> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: @ciaocibai: I included the other wording too. Now it's even clearer. :D  

---

## 2 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2012-01-16. Score: 5 | Accepted answer

The most common expression should be 春节.

农历新年 is a kind of rare.

We have another word for January 1st (not spring festival), 元旦(yuan2 dan4). So 新年 is normally the Chinese New Year.

Another expression is 阳历年(yang2 li4 nian2) for January 1st, 阴历年(yin1 li4 nian2) for spring festival. 阳历年 may be used more often, as 阴历年 is the default.


---

### Answer by username_1 on 2012-04-13. Score: 0

春节 is commonly used. 农历新年, 阴历年, etc. are rare.

Another common expression is simply 年, but it usually needs to be used in context, e.g. 过年, 拜年, 大年初一, etc.

More example: '年味', '你的年打算怎么过？'

Note the last example, it is not 'How do you plan to spend this year?', but 'How do you plan to celebrate the Spring Festival?' See <http://news.xinhuanet.com/city/2012-01/20/c_122610924.htm> for a real usage example.

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: Why do you think this answer would be useful when 1) The question was resolved three months ago; and 2) Two-thirds of your answer is exactly the same as the accepted answer, and the remaining one-third is completely wrong? (The 年 in "过年, 拜年, 大年初一" does not refer to the festival, just as the word in "新年" does not refer to the festival. It simply means year.)  
> **username_1**: I answered because the only other answer missed one very common and important expression: '年'. Check http://baike.baidu.com/view/19365.htm#sub7694482. Your understanding is wrong.  
> **username_0**: @X.Yang The first point has no reason actually. You can answer even answered questions and if a new answer is better, I can even change my accepted answer. :) I'm not sure about the second point, but the first is wrong.  
> **username_0**: @Betty You can answer any question, no matter how many answers it has, as long as you genuinely think you're "answering" and not just "commenting" (that would be a comment). :)  

---

