Different Ways To Say Merry Christmas In Chinese?

Merry Christmas in Chinese. Photo: Hanbridge Mandarin

Let’s break that phrase down to better understand it:

The Chinese word for Christmas is 圣诞节 (shèng dàn jié). Let’s see what the characters mean individually to better help you understand the word:

• 圣 (shèng) means “saint.”

• 诞 (dàn) means “birth.”

• 节 (jié) means “festival” or “holiday.”

So, all together the word for Christmas means “the birth of a saint holiday.” Despite the name of the holiday, you’d be surprised at how many people in China still don’t know the reason for the season.

In Chinese, an easy way to wish someone a “happy” or “merry” holiday is simply to add the word 快乐 (kuài lè). Unlike in English, where we’d say “Happy Birthday” or “Merry Christmas,” the word for “happy/merry” comes after the name of the holiday when you say it in Chinese, according to Transparent Language.

SAY Season’s Greetings in Chinese

圣诞快乐，新年好！

shèng dàn kuài lè, xīn nián hǎo

A Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year.

圣诞快乐，恭贺新禧！

shèng dàn kuài lè, gōng hè xīn xǐ

Merry Christmas and happy New Year!

献上最诚挚的节日祝福。

xiàn shàng zuì chéng zhì de jié rì zhù fú

Best wishes on this holiday season.

在圣诞和新年来临之际，祝福你平安、快乐、幸福！

zài shèng dàn hé xīn nián lái lín zhī jì, zhù fú nǐ píng ān, kuài lè, xìng fú

Wishing you peace, joy and happiness through Christmas and the coming year.

美丽的圣诞节之际，谨致我的思念与祝福。

měi lì de shèng dàn jié zhī jì, jǐn zhì wǒ de sī niàn yǔ zhù fú

Thinking of you and wishing you a beautiful Christmas season.