Gong Hai Fat Choi does not = Happy New Year.

[TotallyKiller]

Wow. The amount of crap on here because you're upset that people are well-wishing others with what you consider incorrect/inappropriate wording.

If someone is willing to try it, then great. If you want to politely point out that there is a better phrase, fantastic. Good on you. If you want to freak out and basically tell people to not bother if they can't use the correct (in your opinion) phrase, then you have issues.

I lived in Beijing and Shanghai (and Markham and GTA) and was told my many people to use Gongxi Facai, Xin Nian Quai Le, Gong Hai Fat Choi, etc. They all told me that any of them would be considered polite ways of saying happy new year (or a good alternative).

Maybe the next time you say "hey, what's up" or "how's it going" someone will punch you in the head and tell you "No, no. The proper greeting is Hello. How are you today? Get it right."

It reminds me of the time I beat that guy senseless for saying "Happy Holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas". What a bastard.

[mlc2000]

It reminds me of the time I beat that guy senseless for saying "Happy Holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas". What a bastard.

That was you?

[ChrisBa]

Maybe the next time you say "hey, what's up" or "how's it going" someone will punch you in the head and tell you "No, no. The proper greeting is Hello. How are you today? Get it right."

It reminds me of the time I beat that guy senseless for saying "Happy Holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas". What a bastard.

Very well put..

i wish people would start respecting our Canadian heritage.

[wise]

Very well put..

i wish people would start respecting our Canadian heritage.

can you explain this as I don't understand.

while you're at it, define Canadian heritage too as I'm sure you don't mean this:

http://www.mta.ca/faculty/arts/canad...tive/index.htm

[rpeatt]

LOL .. it's so true

i hate it when non-chinese people try to pronounce it..

yeah, well I hate it when asian people try to pronounce "sorry" "really" and "very"

so there

[wise]

yeah, well I hate it when asian people try to pronounce "sorry" "really" and "very"

so there

is the pic necessary?

[rpeatt]

is the pic necessary?

it sure is.. it illustrates the ridiculousness of skyblue12's original statement

[danfromwaterloo]

I realize its not their first language but when you try to say something in someone elses language at least get it close to right.

And to all the non-chinese people, STOP SAYING IT, its WRONG.

Wow, that's an assh*le thing to say.

The sentiment behind the attempt is what you should be looking at. Rants like this will ensure non-chinese people don't say anything to you.

[UrbanPoet]

damn it! can everyone cut the bull ****.
Its NOT wrong.
its a proper way to greet someone a 'happy chinese new year'. Just b/c it doesnt litterally translate into 'happy chinese new year' doesnt mean people are being ignorant or incorrect.

[HeadSh0T]

When will people start to realize that Cantonese is not the only chinese dialect? Gong hay fat choi is CANTONESE.

Mandarin is the official dialect of Chinese so if you want to know how to say it IN Chinese, it's "Gongxi Fa tsai".

[manixc]

what a silly thread.

Gong Hai Fat Choi is fine and acceptable. It's interesting to see all the politicians saying it around this time of year.

[EH100501AC]

I seriously learned something new or maybe I just forgot. Interesting...

[Kohanz]

I'll say "Gong Hey Fat Guy!" and you will like it!

[ChrisBa]

can you explain this as I don't understand.

while you're at it, define Canadian heritage too as I'm sure you don't mean this:

http://www.mta.ca/faculty/arts/canad...tive/index.htm

Yes, way to read into this too far.

[wise]

it sure is.. it illustrates the ridiculousness of skyblue12's original statement

no it doesn't. All it illustrates is a racist stereotype of asians as wearing rice hats with buck teeth and slanted eyes.

WTF does that have to do with you and skyblue12 talking about not liking how people SPEAK and you trying to illustrate the "ridiculousness" of skyblue12's opinion??? The issue should be about intolerance regarding how people speak and not about racist stereotypes regarding a race's image.

You made your point about that already but you could have left out the stupid pic.