hongbao
Lucky money gift
A hongbao is a red envelope containing money, given as a gift in Chinese culture during holidays, weddings, and other celebrations.
The red color symbolizes good luck and prosperity.
Hongbao are especially associated with Lunar New Year, when elders give them to children and younger relatives: The kids couldn't wait to open their hongbao.
Digital hongbao sent through apps have become common.
Festival marking moon-calendar's beginning
- Spring FestivalLunar new year celebration
- weddingMarriage rite and feast
- birthdayAnnual date of origin
- Chinese New YearEast Asian lunar celebration
graduation · engagement · housewarming · Mid-Autumn Festival · Dragon Boat Festival · reunion · celebration · anniversary
Primary color, warm
- packetSmall sealed container
- crimsonDeep purplish-red shade
- vermilionVivid red-orange pigment
- goldElement seventy-nine
design · calligraphy · embossed · decorative · paper · sealed · folded · ornate
Ready spending funds
- banknotesPaper currency notes
- currencyMedium of exchange
- amountTotal quantity present
- denominationNamed religious group
savings · funds · wealth · prosperity · windfall · payment · deposit · lucky money
Wealth or destiny
- prosperityGood fortune, success
- auspiciousIndicating future success
- blessingPrayer seeking divine favor
- favorableInclined toward approval
good wishes · wealth · success · abundance · karma · omen · destiny · charm
Transferring to another
- generosityReadiness to give freely
- gratitudeThankfulness for kindness received
- blessingPrayer seeking divine favor
- recipientOne who receives something
token · appreciation · kindness · surprise · joyful · thoughtful · bestow · elder
Lunar New Year
Festival marking moon-calendar's beginning
- Spring FestivalLunar new year celebration
- weddingMarriage rite and feast
- birthdayAnnual date of origin
Chinese New Year · graduation · engagement · housewarming · Mid-Autumn Festival · Dragon Boat Festival · reunion · celebration · anniversary · retirement
red
Primary color, warm
gold · design · calligraphy · embossed · decorative · paper · sealed · folded · ornate · gilded
cash
Ready spending funds
denomination · savings · funds · wealth · prosperity · windfall · payment · deposit · lucky money · tipping
fortune
Wealth or destiny
- prosperityGood fortune, success
- auspiciousIndicating future success
- blessingPrayer seeking divine favor
good wishes · favorable · wealth · success · abundance · karma · omen · destiny · charm · beneficial
giving
Transferring to another
- generosityReadiness to give freely
- gratitudeThankfulness for kindness received
- blessingPrayer seeking divine favor
recipient · token · appreciation · kindness · surprise · joyful · thoughtful · bestow · elder · junior
custom
Habitual group practice
- ritualCeremonial set of actions
- ceremonyFormal event marking occasions
- heritageInherited cultural legacy
practice · etiquette · superstition · protocol · ancestors · family · respect · filial piety · elder · junior
hongbaogreeting card
Printed sentiment for occasions
Christmas card · birthday card · gift card · Christmas bonus