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拜年 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
拜年bàiniánto pay a New Year callHSK 6, v, 15 strokes, rank #49768, Hard
拜年bàiniánto wish sb a Happy New YearHSK 6, v, 15 strokes, rank #49768, Hard
bàinián(bai4nian2)bai nian T4
  1. 1to pay a New Year call
  2. 2to wish sb a Happy New Year
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March 24, 2026

拜年bàinián(bai4nian2)

拜年 (bài nián) refers to the traditional practice of visiting friends and family during the Lunar New Year to convey good wishes for the year ahead. This expression is commonly used in greetings, where people wish each other prosperity, health, and happiness as part of the New Year celebrations.

Strokes15Frequency#49768DifficultyHard
Cultural note

拜年 is an integral part of the Chinese New Year customs, where people exchange red envelopes and greetings to symbolize good fortune and happiness for the year ahead. This practice illustrates the importance of family and community in Chinese culture.

Memory tip

Imagine a family gathering where everyone is bowing (拜) to each other while sharing wishes for the New Year (年). The bowing gesture helps you remember that 拜年 is about honoring relationships and wishing well during the festive season.

Meanings of 拜年

bàinián(bai4nian2)
1to pay a New Year call
2to wish sb a Happy New Year
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About 拜年

拜年Simplified
15Strokes
—Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#49768Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L6AdvancedTOCFLL5BCT✓CEFRC2

Podcast: 拜年

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Podcast: 拜年

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AI study notes for 拜年

Quick Contrast

贺年 (hè nián) refers to sending New Year greetings, typically in a written form, while 拜年 (bàinián) emphasizes the act of visiting in person.

Usage Notes

Be mindful to use 拜年 primarily during the Lunar New Year, as it is context-specific. Common collocations include phrases like '拜年好' (happy New Year wishes) and '给...拜年' (to wish ... a happy New Year). Avoid using it in a casual context outside of the New Year celebrations.

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK Level 6 word, 拜年 connects well with other terms related to holidays and family, such as 节日 (jiérì - festival) and 家人 (jiārén - family). Focus on the cultural significance of the Lunar New Year and practice related vocabulary to enhance understanding.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 拜年 with general greetings throughout the year. For example, saying 拜年 in the middle of summer is incorrect; it should only be used during the Lunar New Year. Always pair it with appropriate New Year wishes.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 拜年

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Component characters

拜bàito pay respect
HSK 19 strokes手
View full entry
年niányear
HSK 16 strokes干
View full entry

How to say to pay a New Year call in Chinese

“to pay a New Year call” in Chinese is拜年bàinián

拜年 (bài nián) refers to the traditional practice of visiting friends and family during the Lunar New Year to convey good wishes for the year ahead. This expression is commonly used in greetings, where people wish each other prosperity, health, and happiness as part of the New Year celebrations.

When to use 拜年

Be mindful to use 拜年 primarily during the Lunar New Year, as it is context-specific. Common collocations include phrases like '拜年好' (happy New Year wishes) and '给...拜年' (to wish ... a happy New Year). Avoid using it in a casual context outside of the New Year celebrations.

拜年 or something close to it

贺年 (hè nián) refers to sending New Year greetings, typically in a written form, while 拜年 (bàinián) emphasizes the act of visiting in person.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 拜年 with general greetings throughout the year. For example, saying 拜年 in the middle of summer is incorrect; it should only be used during the Lunar New Year. Always pair it with appropriate New Year wishes.

Write 拜年

拜
年

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Frequently asked questions about 拜年

拜年 is specifically used during the Lunar New Year celebrations to wish others well.

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