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年夜饭 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
年夜饭niányèfànNew Year's Eve family dinnerHSK 5, unknown, 21 strokes, Hard
niányèfàn(nian2ye4fan4)nian ye fan T2
  1. 1New Year's Eve family dinner
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March 24, 2026

年夜饭(年夜飯)niányèfàn(nian2ye4fan4)

年夜饭 (nián yè fàn) refers to the traditional family dinner held on New Year's Eve in China. This meal is significant as it brings family members together to celebrate the end of the old year and welcome the new one, often featuring special dishes that symbolize good fortune and prosperity.

Strokes21DifficultyHard
Cultural note

年夜饭 is more than just a meal; it is a time for family bonding and honoring ancestors. Traditional dishes served often have symbolic meanings, such as fish for abundance and dumplings for wealth, reflecting deep cultural beliefs surrounding fortune and prosperity.

Memory tip

Think of 年 (nián) as 'year' and 夜 (yè) as 'night,' together they conjure the image of a festive night, where families gather around a table filled with delicious food (饭, fàn). Imagine the warmth and joy of a family reunion during this special dinner, where every dish is a wish for a prosperous year ahead.

Meanings of 年夜饭

niányèfàn(nian2ye4fan4)
1New Year's Eve family dinner
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About 年夜饭

年夜饭Simplified
年夜飯Traditional
21Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L5AdvancedCEFRC2

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AI Study Notes for 年夜饭

Quick Contrast

团圆饭 (tuányuánfàn) refers to a reunion dinner, which can occur on various occasions, while 年夜饭 specifically denotes the New Year's Eve dinner.

Usage Notes

When discussing 年夜饭, it is important to use it in a family context. A common mistake is to refer to it as just 'dinner' (晚餐, wǎncān) which lacks the cultural significance. You might hear it in both formal and informal settings, but it's typically used in a celebratory context.

HSK Study Tips

While 年夜饭 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it connects to themes of family and celebration found in levels 2 and 3. Students should focus on associated vocabulary like 家 (jiā, family) and 祝福 (zhùfú, blessings) to enhance understanding.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 年夜饭 with other types of meals and may say '我今天吃年夜饭' (I eat New Year's Eve dinner today), which is incorrect. Instead, use '我今晚吃年夜饭' (I will have New Year's Eve dinner tonight) to convey the correct timing.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 年夜饭

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Component Characters

年niányear
HSK 16 strokes干
View full entry
夜yènight, dark; under cover of night
HSK 48 strokes夕
View full entry
饭fànfood
HSK 17 strokes饣
View full entry

How to say New Year's Eve family dinner in Chinese

“New Year's Eve family dinner” in Chinese is年夜饭niányèfàn

年夜饭 (nián yè fàn) refers to the traditional family dinner held on New Year's Eve in China. This meal is significant as it brings family members together to celebrate the end of the old year and welcome the new one, often featuring special dishes that symbolize good fortune and prosperity.

When to use 年夜饭

When discussing 年夜饭, it is important to use it in a family context. A common mistake is to refer to it as just 'dinner' (晚餐, wǎncān) which lacks the cultural significance. You might hear it in both formal and informal settings, but it's typically used in a celebratory context.

年夜饭 or something close to it

团圆饭 (tuányuánfàn) refers to a reunion dinner, which can occur on various occasions, while 年夜饭 specifically denotes the New Year's Eve dinner.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 年夜饭 with other types of meals and may say '我今天吃年夜饭' (I eat New Year's Eve dinner today), which is incorrect. Instead, use '我今晚吃年夜饭' (I will have New Year's Eve dinner tonight) to convey the correct timing.

Write 年夜饭

年
夜
饭

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Frequently Asked Questions about 年夜饭

Common dishes include fish, dumplings, and rice cakes, each symbolizing good fortune.

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