中国过年红包，你了解多少？

Chinese Red Envelope

中国红包

Red envelopes, also called red packets, lucky money, or hongbao in Chinese, are a popular monetary gift given on some important occasions or festivals in China and some other Asian countries, especially widely seen during the Chinese New Year(Spring Festival). It is a Chinese New Year gift with money stuffed into red paper to kids. The red packets are usually presented by parents and grandparents to children during Chinese New Year, which is probably one of the most recognized traditions that are observed during the Festival.

红包，又称红包、压岁钱、红包，是中国和其他一些亚洲国家在一些重要场合或节日赠送的一种流行的货币礼物，特别是在中国新年（春节）期间。这是一个中国新年礼物，钱塞进红纸给孩子们。红包通常是在春节期间由父母和祖父母送给孩子的，这可能是节日期间最受认可的传统之一。

Why give the red envelopes?

为什么给红包？

Protection against Monster:

防御年兽

According to legend a monster known as Sui appeared on New Year's Eve with the intent of harming children. A sleeping child who was touched by this monster would develop a fever and subsequently become an idiot. However it was said that when their parents prayed sincerely, God sent eight guards disguised as coins to protect them. So people threaded eight coins on red string and placed them under the children's pillows. This became an annual custom and the monster Sui no longer came near. As the Chinese Character Year (岁suì) has the same pronunciation with the monster's name (祟Suì), the people called the coins Ya Sui Qian, meaning “lucky money warding off the evil spirit”. As time passed, paper notes replaced the coins and the envelope replaced the thread.

根据传说，除夕夜出现了一个叫祟的怪物，意图伤害孩子。熟睡的孩子们被这个怪物触碰后会发烧，然后变成白痴。然而，据说当他们的父母真诚地祈祷时，上帝派了八个伪装成硬币的守卫来保护他们。于是人们把八枚硬币串在红色的绳子上，放在孩子们的枕头下面。这成了每年的习俗，怪物祟不再靠近。由于汉字年（岁suì）与妖怪的名字（祟suì）发音相同，人们称之为钱币“压岁钱”，意思是“辟邪的压岁钱”。随着时间的推移，纸币取代了硬币，信封取代了线。

Share the Blessing:

分享祝福：

Nowadays, money wrapped in red is a gift not only for kids but also elders, relatives, and sometimes friends. Red is the most popular and auspicious color in China, so people use this way to share blessings and happiness to each other.

如今，用红色包装的钱不仅是给孩子的礼物，也是给长辈、亲戚、有时是朋友的礼物。红色是中国最流行和吉祥的颜色，所以人们用这种方式互相分享祝福和幸福。

Who gets them?

红包送给谁呢？

Children or unmarried members of the younger generation look forward to receiving lucky money from others, something which is definitely not a privilege that adults enjoy. Once an adult has started earning money, they will begin to give the red envelopes in the Spring Festival. As a wage earner, you will be expected to give money nearly to everyone, kids, elders and relatives, but lucky money seldom goes to you.

年轻一代的孩子或未婚成员期待从长辈那里得到压岁钱，这绝对不是成年人所享有的特权。一旦一个成年人开始挣钱，他们会在春节开始给红包。作为一个有收入的人，你几乎可以把钱给所有人，孩子，长辈和亲戚，但是压岁钱很少给自己。

Kids:

Adhering to the old tradition, people should give the kids the lucky money if they start to make money. Those targeted as receivers usually will be their own children, nieces, nephews, as well as friends' and colleagues' kids. Greetings like wishes for good health and happiness usually go along with the luck money.

按照老传统，如果孩子们开始赚钱，就应该给他们压岁钱。压岁钱的接受者通常是自己的孩子、侄女、侄子以及朋友和同事的孩子。这样的问候如祝福一般，祝您身体健康，幸福快乐，也通常都伴随着好运和金钱。

Elders:

People who are bread winners, are expected to give money wrapped in red paper to their parents and grandparents. This is a gift to show respect and a grateful heart.

长者：

作为一家之主，应该给他们的父母和祖父母红纸包装的钱。这是一份表示尊重和感激的礼物。

Employees:

The boss in a company will distribute the red envelopes to employees in the working days preceding the Chinese New Year. However, in southern China, people are likely to give “a start back to work” packet (Li Shi) when employees return after the Spring Festival.

员工：

公司老板会在春节前的工作日给员工发红包。然而，在中国南方，当员工春节后返回时，人们很可能会给他们一个“重新开始工作”的红包。

Acquaintances' children:

If coming across an acquaintance with kids, you need to send the packets as well.

朋友的子女：

如果你遇到朋友的孩子，你也需要寄发红包。

How much to put in a red envelope?

There are no set answers to this question and individuals decide according to their financial status. The amount also varies between close and distant relationships. Hereare common examples in China for your reference:
一个红包要放多少钱？

这个问题没有固定的答案，个人根据自己的经济状况来决定。在亲密关系和疏远关系之间，数量也有所不同。以下是中国常见的例子供您参考：
Relative's kids: RMB 200 - 1,000
Other acquaintances' children: RMB 50 - 100
Parents and grandparents: RMB 500 - 2,000
Elder relatives: RMB 300 - 1,000
Employees: RMB 50 - 500

亲属子女：200-1000元

其他熟人子女：50-100元

父母和祖父母：500-2000元

长者亲属：300-1000元

员工：50-500元

Money in Lucky Amount

People prefer to receive lucky money in lucky amounts. You may wonder what amount will be regarded as auspicious. In the northern region of China, the integral and even number amount are popular, such as 100, 200, 500, 800 and 1000 whereas sums such as 250, 400 or 740 should be avoided. In the south, people will choose to send packets with money in an amount of RMB 88, 666, 888 or 999, as these figures are considered auspicious. Such numbers usually imply a blessing for an increasing wealth and a smooth development.

压岁钱的数量

人们更喜欢收到幸运金额的压岁钱。你可能想知道多少钱会被认为是吉祥的。在我国北方地区，整数和偶数的数量比较普遍，如100、200、500、800和1000，而整数和偶数的数量应避免为250、400或740。在南方，人们会选择用88、666、888或999元的货币来发红包，因为这些数字被认为是吉祥的。这样的数字通常意味着财富的增加和发展的顺利。

Wechat Red Envelope

Wechat is now one of the most widely-used social media in China. With a large number of users, the Wechat Red Envelope App has also become popular in recent years. During the Spring Festival, young people are inclined to send Wechat envelopes to each other as a way of greeting. It is fast and convenient way to contact with friends from afar.
微信红包

微信现在是中国使用最广泛的社交媒体之一。随着用户数量的增加，微信红包应用近年来也开始流行起来。春节期间，年轻人倾向于互发微信作为问候的方式。这是一种快捷方便的与远方朋友联系的方式。

What's more, people can also grab the cyber envelopes as they watch the live Chinese New Year TV Gala. They just shake phones ceaselessly to gain random amounts of money. The funny part is that some people will shake their phones to destruction and get no more than a few cents.

更重要的是，人们还可以在观看春节电视直播晚会时抢到网络红包。他们只是不停地摇手机，以获得随机数量的钱。有趣的是，有些人会把手机摇到毁灭的地步，而且只得到几分钱。