<p>恭喜发财 is a customary New Year's greeting... I would think it's generally understood to be said during these times. She may just have an issue because you wrote it to her... Usually this is a spoken term, followed by "红包拿来" ("Red Envelope, please!")... but it's usually just kids that get the red envelops... </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-02-16T02:13:57.603Z
I think the translation is more like "give me a red envelope or else!" :).
deutschZuid
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-02-16T08:42:49.387Z
@JamesJiao 红包拿来 sounds more demanding to me, more like "now where's my red envelope!" :)
NS.X.
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-02-16T09:37:43.590Z
@NS.X. I think most kids are spoilt like that nowadays.
deutschZuid
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-02-16T21:33:06.143Z
@JamesJiao Just in case you don't know yet, the fashionable word to call them is 熊孩子. http://baike.baidu.com/view/2335491.htm
NS.X.
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-02-16T21:54:47.010Z
@NS.X. Thanks! I've missed many of these new trendy terms since I left China.
deutschZuid
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-02-15T20:57:38.537Z
2013-02-16T02:14:21.740Z
2013-02-16T02:14:21.740Z
user3871
<p>Honestly, she may have just been a bit uptight. I don’t see how 恭喜发财 can be in any way awkward or inappropriate. But on the other hand if you had said, “利是逗來” then maybe. HK culture, this is very common.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-01-14T19:27:32.133Z
2023-01-14T19:39:07.590Z
2023-01-14T19:39:07.590Z
Ray
<p>恭喜发财 may not be the best greeting word from student to teacher, but it's not awkward - the intention is always good. </p>

<p>For example, parents usually wish children with good health, striving and studying. If a parent greets children with wealth, you may find them funny, fashionable or friend-like, but definitely not mammonish or evil. </p>

<p>In old Chinese traditions, there were strict rules about etiquette and word usage. A small misuse can be considered a big issue. But that time has long gone.</p>

<p>It might sound a little sarcastic if you say 恭喜发财 to someone who is obviously in an opposite situation, otherwise it should be fine to say it to anyone.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-02-15T21:52:10.633Z
It's interesting actually. Whenever someone says that to me, I always feel that person's being sarcastic. I am not rich, so there is nothing to be congratulated for. :P.
deutschZuid
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-02-15T21:07:38.857Z
2013-02-15T21:07:38.857Z
NS.X.
<p>I sent new year greetings to my Chinese teacher last week, writing "新年快乐! 恭喜发财!". When I saw her today she thanked me, but said I should never write 恭喜发财 to a teacher, because it's a greeting only people obsessed with money would use.</p>

<p>Is 恭喜发财 generally understood this way? Who could I / should I write or say 恭喜发财 to? Also, if it was indeed inappropriate, how bad was it? Did it just sound awkward, or was it worse?</p>

<greetings>
Could 恭喜发财 sound inappropriate?
# Could 恭喜发财 sound inappropriate?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2013-02-15)

I sent new year greetings to my Chinese teacher last week, writing "新年快乐! 恭喜发财!". When I saw her today she thanked me, but said I should never write 恭喜发财 to a teacher, because it's a greeting only people obsessed with money would use.

Is 恭喜发财 generally understood this way? Who could I / should I write or say 恭喜发财 to? Also, if it was indeed inappropriate, how bad was it? Did it just sound awkward, or was it worse?

**Tags:** greetings

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## 3 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2013-02-15. Score: 5 | Accepted answer

恭喜发财 may not be the best greeting word from student to teacher, but it's not awkward - the intention is always good.

For example, parents usually wish children with good health, striving and studying. If a parent greets children with wealth, you may find them funny, fashionable or friend-like, but definitely not mammonish or evil.

In old Chinese traditions, there were strict rules about etiquette and word usage. A small misuse can be considered a big issue. But that time has long gone.

It might sound a little sarcastic if you say 恭喜发财 to someone who is obviously in an opposite situation, otherwise it should be fine to say it to anyone.

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: It's interesting actually. Whenever someone says that to me, I always feel that person's being sarcastic. I am not rich, so there is nothing to be congratulated for. :P.  

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### Answer by username_1 on 2013-02-15. Score: 3

恭喜发财 is a customary New Year's greeting... I would think it's generally understood to be said during these times. She may just have an issue because you wrote it to her... Usually this is a spoken term, followed by "红包拿来" ("Red Envelope, please!")... but it's usually just kids that get the red envelops...

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: I think the translation is more like "give me a red envelope or else!" :).  
> **username_3**: @JamesJiao 红包拿来 sounds more demanding to me, more like "now where's my red envelope!" :)  
> **username_2**: @NS.X. I think most kids are spoilt like that nowadays.  
> **username_3**: @JamesJiao Just in case you don't know yet, the fashionable word to call them is 熊孩子. http://baike.baidu.com/view/2335491.htm  
> **username_2**: @NS.X. Thanks! I've missed many of these new trendy terms since I left China.  

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### Answer by username_4 on 2023-01-14. Score: 0

Honestly, she may have just been a bit uptight. I don’t see how 恭喜发财 can be in any way awkward or inappropriate. But on the other hand if you had said, “利是逗來” then maybe. HK culture, this is very common.


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