Traditionally, Chinese people give red envelopes with money inside, known as a hongbao, to friends and relatives during Chinese New Year celebrations. [Photo by Liu Junfeng for China Daily]

Giving & receiving red envelopes

Dialogue:

A: 小时候每到过年我都特别开心！

xiǎo shí hou měi dào guò nián wǒ dōu tè bié kāi xīn!

In my childhood, I was always very happy during the Spring Festival!

B: 我也是！因为长辈们会给我很多压岁钱！

wǒ yě shì! yīn wèi zhǎng bèi men huì gěi wǒ hěn duō yā suì qián!

Me too! Because the elders would give me lots of lucky money!

A: 没错，现在我还很喜欢在微信里抢红包呢！

méi cuò, xiàn zài wǒ hái hěn xǐ huān zài wēi xìn lǐ qiǎng hóng bāo ne!

Yes, I still like to grab the red envelopes through Wechat now!

B: 哈哈，现在长大了，轮到我们发红包了!

hā hā, xiàn zài zhǎng dà le, lún dào wǒ men fā hóng bāo le！

Haha, we've grown up now, so it's our turn to send the red envelopes!

Words & expressions

【小时候】xiǎo shí hou: childhood

【每】měi: every, each

【过年】guò nián: celebrate the Chinese New Year (Spring Festival)

【特别】tè bié: special

【开心】kāi xīn: happy

【长辈】zhǎng bèi: elder, senior

【压岁钱】yā suì qián: money given to children as a lunar New Year gift

【现在】xiàn zài: now

【抢】qiǎng: grab

【红包】hóng bāo: red envelope

【长大】zhǎng dà: grow up

【轮到】lún dào: one's turn

【发】fā: send