A red envelope is a small red paper packet holding a gift of money, given at Chinese New Year as a wish for good luck. It is called hongbao (红包, "red packet") in Mandarin and lai see in Cantonese. Traditionally elders and married adults give them to children and younger unmarried relatives, and the gesture matters more than the amount.
What is a red envelope?
The envelope is the point as much as the money. Red is the color of good fortune and celebration in Chinese culture, and the packet is usually printed in gold with a greeting, a lucky symbol or the zodiac animal of the year. For 2027, expect goats and sheep.
The money inside is known as yasuiqian, New Year's money. According to Columbia University's Asia for Educators program, children received it on New Year's Eve after formally paying respect to their elders, starting with the oldest member of the family. Many families still hand out envelopes that night or on the morning of the first day. In 2027 those dates are February 5 and February 6.
Red envelopes are not only for the new year. They are also given at weddings, birthdays and the birth of a baby, with their own rules for each occasion.
Who gives red envelopes, and to whom?
The usual direction is from older to younger, and from married to unmarried.
- Grandparents, parents, aunts and uncles give to the children of the family. The Lam Museum of Anthropology at Wake Forest University notes that, by tradition, all unmarried children are eligible.
- Close friends and neighbors sometimes give to the children of a household they visit.
- Employers give envelopes to staff, often as a year-end bonus, and some businesses give them to loyal customers.
Who counts as a "child" varies. In some families the envelopes stop when you start working, in others when you marry. In southern China the dividing line is traditionally marriage: married people give, single people receive. If you are unsure, ask a relative or friend what is done in their family. Nobody minds the question.
Lion dance troupes receive envelopes too. Spectators and shopkeepers "feed" a red envelope into the lion's mouth as a donation to the performers.
How much money goes in a red envelope?
There is no standard amount, and anyone who gives you one figure is describing their own family. A few principles hold almost everywhere:
- Closer relationship, larger gift. The envelope for your own child or grandchild is larger than the one for a neighbor's child.
- Modest is normal. In a January 2025 survey by the Hong Kong Research Association, reported by The Standard, HK$20 (about US$2.50 or £2) was the most common amount per envelope. People who hand out dozens of envelopes keep each one small.
- Give what is comfortable. The gift is a blessing, not a payment. It should never strain the giver.
Families in the US and the UK often give in round local amounts, larger for close family and smaller for everyone else. If you are a guest and want a number, ask your host what is usual in their circle.
Which numbers are lucky, and which should you avoid?
The amount is chosen with its sound in mind.
| Number | How it is traditionally seen | Example amounts |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | Avoided. In Chinese it sounds like the word for death | Skip $4, $40, $44, $400 |
| 8 | Considered lucky. It sounds like the word for prosperity | $8, $18, $88 |
| Even amounts | Often preferred, on the idea that good things come in pairs | $2, $10, $20 |
Customs differ on odd numbers, and some families give a single bill of any value without a second thought. The rule about 4 is the one that is observed most widely.
How do you give and receive a red envelope politely?
If you are giving:
- Use crisp, new bills. Wrinkled bills and coins are traditionally avoided.
- Prepare the envelopes in advance and carry a few spares.
- Hand the envelope over with a greeting, such as xin nian kuai le ("happy new year"). More phrases are in our list of Chinese New Year greetings.
- Give every child in the same household a similar amount.
If you are receiving:
- Say thank you, and add a good wish for the giver.
- Do not open it in front of the giver. Put it away and look later.
- Children traditionally greet their elders first. The envelope follows the greeting, not the other way around.
Do people send red envelopes digitally?
Yes, and in mainland China it is now the most common way. The messaging app WeChat introduced virtual red envelopes at Chinese New Year 2014, and within a few years surveys reported by the South China Morning Post found digital packets had overtaken paper ones there. In Hong Kong and in overseas communities, paper envelopes with cash remain the norm for family gatherings.
A digital envelope is fine for friends and for relatives who live far away. For grandparents and for the children in front of you, paper is still the warmer choice.
Is the custom the same in other countries?
It has close relatives. In Vietnam, children receive lì xì, lucky money in red envelopes, at Tết. In South Korea, children make a formal New Year's bow called sebae to their elders at Seollal and receive money called sebaetdon in return, and red is not the required color. Among Hokkien-speaking Chinese communities in Southeast Asia, the packets are known as ang pow.
Each tradition has its own etiquette, so the notes above apply to Chinese New Year specifically.
What if you want to bring something besides money?
A red envelope is for children and younger relatives. For your hosts, a gift of fruit, sweets or tea is more usual. Our guide to Chinese New Year gifts covers what to bring and what is traditionally avoided, and Chinese New Year superstitions explains the thinking behind lucky and unlucky numbers. For the dates and the meaning of the year ahead, see Year of the Goat 2027.