The rat is associated with a new 12-year cycle in the Chinese zodiac. Legend has it that a race among all the animals determined which twelve would be featured in the zodiac. The animals finished in the following order: rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog, and pig. This sequence dictates the order of the animals in the zodiac.
The rat is generally agreed to be very clever. Although it was in second place, it jumped off the ox’s back to secure victory. This story highlights how using resources to your advantage can propel you forward.
Red and gold, considered lucky colors, are prominent during this season, along with distinctive celebratory music. Chinese New Year commences on January 25th, 2020, and positive phrases will be commonplace from the first to the fifteenth day of the lunar new year.
A wish for numerous business opportunities.
Starting on the first day of Chinese New Year, greetings are exchanged and will be welcomed by any Chinese individuals you encounter during the holiday period.
Some common greetings include 新年快乐 (xin nian kuai le), meaning ‘happy new year,’ and 恭喜发财 (gong xi fa cai), which translates to ‘congratulations on receiving wealth and success.’ In Chinese culture, wealth symbolizes success, particularly during Chinese New Year. Additionally, 心想事成 (xin xiang shi cheng), meaning ‘may your wishes come true,’ and 福气满满 (fu qi man man), ‘prosperity in abundance,’ are well-received greetings.
In the context of business, greetings often center around good fortune, including:
- 和气生财 (he qi sheng cai), signifying ‘wealth stemming from harmony,’
- 步步高升 (bu bu gao sheng), which means ‘rising higher with each step taken,’
- 财源广进 (cai yuan guang jin), translating to ‘may wealth flow in abundantly,’ or 财源滚滚 (cai yuan gun gun), ‘may riches pour in,’
- 东成西就 (dong cheng xi jiu), meaning ‘achievements in all endeavors, literally from east to west,’
- 工作顺利 (gong zuo shun li), ‘may your work proceed smoothly,’
- 鸿运当头 (hong yun dang tou), ‘may fortune find you,’
- 货如轮转 (huo ru lun zhuan), meaning ‘may your products sell quickly and effortlessly, like turning wheels,’
- 马到成功 (ma dao cheng gong), signifying ‘instant success,’
- 年年有馀 (nian nian you yu), ‘surpluses every year,’
- 平步青云 (ping bu qing yun), which translates to ‘a smooth and effortless path to success,’
- 升官发财 (sheng guan fa cai) meaning ‘receive a promotion and increase in wealth,’
- 生意兴隆 (sheng yi xing long), conveying ‘may your business flourish,’
- 事业有成 (shi ye you cheng), meaning ‘success in business,’ and 事业发达 (shi ye fa da), signifying ‘a thriving business,’
- 年进步 (xin nian jin bu), which means ‘making progress in the new year,’
- 一本万利 (yi ben wan li), meaning ‘reap substantial rewards from your investments.’
Singapore’s Chinatown decorated for the year of the rat, featuring a prominent lantern display on the left and Yue Hwa Emporium on the right.
Greetings may also incorporate the animal representing the current year. For instance, ___年大吉 (___ nian da ji) signifies ‘great fortune in the year of the ___,’ and ___年行大運/___年行大运 translates to ‘great luck in the year of the ___,’ with the blank space filled with the appropriate animal. This year is the year of the rat, followed by the ox in 2021, and the tiger in the subsequent year. Simply replace the underlined character with the corresponding animal.
A closer look at the celebratory couplets at Yue Hwa. The first line reads, “Yue Hwa wishes all households,” while the second line says, “(that) happiness in the year of the rat reaches your doors.”
Nestle’s Kit Kat collaborated with Disney to introduce Mickey Mouse-themed merchandise for the market. The headline plays on the word 鼠 (shu, or rat), to wish visitors an unlimited (数不尽) amount of success. The container features several compartments, usually an even number, traditionally used for serving treats to guests during Chinese New Year.
This year, Magiclean introduced a magic mouse to promote household cleanliness, using a play on words for “squeaky clean.” They also incorporate another pun on the ribbon, substituting 数 with 鼠. The phrase, which references the first or second best, translates to “one of the top cleaning products.”
SK Jewellery opted for a Pokemon theme for Chinese New Year, featuring Pikachu. Despite not being a mouse, Pikachu is inspired by a rodent known as the pika. This resemblance allowed the company to use “chu” from “Pikachu” as a pun for the word “wishing you,” or 祝. This method was frequently used in 2019, the year of the pig, as the word for pig, 猪, sounds similar to 祝.
Brands frequently incorporate the year’s animal into festive greetings. In 2018, the year of the dog, the character 旺, symbolizing abundance and success, was prevalent in decorations due to its phonetic similarity to the sound a dog makes, 汪. Notably, 2019 saw few pig-related puns in Singapore, and the same trend continues in 2020 with rats, as the rat often carries negative connotations in traditional Chinese expressions.
In 2017, the year of the chicken, beverage company Pokka conveyed wishes of 吉祥如意 (ji xiang ru yi), signifying all the joy and success one could hope for. This greeting included a pun on 鸡, which sounds similar, and another on 翔, phonetically similar to 祥 but meaning “to soar,” aligning with the bird theme.
The year 2015 marked the year of the goat (or sheep), and several festive greetings leveraged the multiple meanings of the word for goat, 羊 (yang), found in various Chinese idioms. 阳光灿烂 (yang guang can lan) expresses a wish for bright sunlight or a promising future; 喜气洋洋, adapted to 喜气羊羊 (xi qi yang yang) for the year, conveys happiness all around; and 羊羊得意, actually 洋洋得意 (yang yang de yi), wishes the recipient fulfillment and satisfaction in all their endeavors.
马到成功 is particularly fitting for the year of the horse (last observed in 2014) as the character for horse, 马, begins the greeting, although it can be used in other years as well.
The lohei platter before the tossing begins. Each ingredient holds symbolic meaning, including the raw salmon (abundance) in the center and the crackers (wealth).
Such greetings are customary during traditional Chinese New Year feasts in Malaysia and Singapore, specifically during the lohei (撈起), a salad-tossing tradition that precedes the main meal. Lohei celebrations can start weeks before Chinese New Year and continue until the fifteenth day.
A platter of yusheng (鱼生), a raw fish* salad, is presented, followed by the ceremonial addition of toppings, each accompanied by well-wishing phrases.
Certain toppings are paired with specific expressions. For instance, the sweet sauce is typically poured while saying 甜甜蜜蜜 (tiantian mimi), wishing for a sweet life. When arranging the fish or seafood on the salad, people say 年年有余, as 余 (yu), meaning surplus, sounds similar to 鱼 (yu), meaning fish.
Once prepared, diners collectively mix (lo) the salad using chopsticks while exclaiming greetings and wishes for the coming year. The higher the salad is tossed (hei), the greater the fortune anticipated for the year ahead.
Don’t be concerned if you can’t recall many greetings; a simple ‘happy new year’ suffices. The essence lies in starting the year positively, with traditional hopes for luck, wealth, and success. It is customary to avoid negative expressions. 万事如意 (wan shi ru yi), ‘may all your wishes be fulfilled’!
*Chefs have introduced variations to the traditional salad. Smoked salmon, abalone slices, or lobster can replace raw fish, and the salad can be substituted with fruit. Luxurious toppings like gold flakes or caviar have also emerged in recent years.