Could 恭喜发财 sound inappropriate?

Question

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?

score 5 · Accepted Answer · answered Feb 15 '13 at 21:07

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.

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, Feb 15 '13 at 21:52

score 3 · Answer 2 · edited Feb 16 '13 at 02:14

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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...

edited Feb 16 '13 at 02:14

deutschZuid

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answered Feb 15 '13 at 20:57

user3871

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I think the translation is more like "give me a red envelope or else!" :). – deutschZuid Feb 16 '13 at 02:13
@JamesJiao 红包拿来 sounds more demanding to me, more like "now where's my red envelope!" :) – NS.X. Feb 16 '13 at 08:42
@NS.X. I think most kids are spoilt like that nowadays. – deutschZuid Feb 16 '13 at 09:37
@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. Feb 16 '13 at 21:33
@NS.X. Thanks! I've missed many of these new trendy terms since I left China. – deutschZuid Feb 16 '13 at 21:54

Ray · Answer 3 · 2023-01-14T19:39:07.590

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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.

edited Jan 14 '23 at 19:39

answered Jan 14 '23 at 19:27

Ray

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Could 恭喜发财 sound inappropriate?

3 Answers3