Giving a red envelope filled with lucky money is a common way for the Chinese to show appreciation during important celebrations like Chinese New Year, birthdays and weddings. In this guide, I’ll cover when to give a red envelope, how to choose the right design and how much to give.
The red envelope tradition is all about the reciprocity of giving and receiving. It’s a gesture of goodwill, expressed through the exchange of red envelopes, that builds relationships among family and friends. In fact, after many rounds of giving and receiving red envelopes over the years, you’ll probably find that you end up netting even financially. Count the relationships, not the dollars.
A Chinese red envelope (known as lai see in Cantonese and hong bao in Mandarin) is simply an ornate red pocket of paper the size of an index card. They’re commonly decorated with beautiful Chinese calligraphy and symbols conveying good luck and prosperity on the recipient. Though they’re unquestionably a symbol associated with Chinese New Year, birthdays and weddings, red envelopes are also given for graduations, the launches of new ventures and other special occasions.
Regardless of the event, this basic red envelope etiquette applies: Choose new bills, don’t ever include coins and these days checks are OK. Avoid the number four because of its resemblance to the word meaning death. And, optional, but $88 (8 rhymes with the word for good luck) and $99 (for longevity) are positive symbolic amounts.
Here is a guide to the most common occasions for giving and receiving Chinese red envelopes.
Chinese New Year
When you’re celebrating Chinese New Year among the family and friends in your neighborhood, be prepared with a fistful of red envelopes filled with money in varying amounts. It’s expected that you’ll give red envelopes to your own children ($20 is common), to any unmarried children among your family and friends ($5-$10 is common), to your parents ($50-$100 is common) and to any friends or family you visit ($20 is common) during the Chinese New Year holiday.
Good Fortune
These premium red envelopes feature the Chinese character for blessings (福) to wish the recipient a year filled with abundance and prosperity. Blooming flowers and brilliant hot foil stamping in red and gold complete the auspicious motif.
Happiness
These premium red envelopes feature the Chinese character for fullness (满) to wish the recipient a year filled with satisfaction and joy. Blooming flowers and brilliant hot foil stamping in red and gold complete the auspicious motif.
Luck
These premium red envelopes feature the Chinese character for luck (祥) to wish the recipient a year filled with success and achievement. Blooming flowers and brilliant hot foil stamping in red and gold complete the auspicious motif.
Birthdays
It’s appropriate to bring a red envelope to major milestone birthday parties (those ending in 9’s for women and 0’s for men) and to the newborn celebration known as a red egg and ginger party. For adult parties, $88 (8 rhymes with the word for good luck) and $99 (for longevity) are positive symbolic amounts. For red egg and ginger parties, use the wedding party rule of thumb — at a minimum, cover your cost of attendance and at a maximum, cover a nice gift — to arrive at a gift amount of $60-$200 per couple attending. If you’re hosting a milestone birthday party, be sure to bring red envelopes for any young children in attendance ($5-$10 is common).
Longevity
These red envelopes feature the Chinese character for longevity, making them appropriate for any birthday celebration, young or old. The decorations include many different character variations for longevity.
Happy Life
These red envelopes feature characters wishing the recipient luck, longevity, health and peace. The decorations include good luck symbols like happy children, beautiful clothing and a peach.
Happiness
These red envelopes wish the recipient a life filled with happiness. Script characters, oranges and a traditional longevity knot express the hope that all wishes come true.
Weddings
Although registries packed with household essentials for the newlyweds are common in the United States, the most appropriate gift at a Chinese wedding is still a red envelope. The amount you give is ultimately subject to the depth of your relationship with the couple, but it’s common to cover your cost of attendance at a minimum and match the cash value of a nice wedding gift at the maximum. Think $100-$200 per couple attending the wedding.
Double Happiness
These red envelopes wish the couple a happy future with wedding well wishes and the Chinese characters for double happiness, the traditional symbol of marriage.
Luck and Riches
These red envelopes wish the recipient enduring luck and prosperity. The decorations include good luck symbols like the Chinese character for good fortune, oranges and gold ingots.
Good Fortune
These red envelopes wish the recipient a life filled with good luck. The decorations include a garland of blossoms and many different variations of the Chinese character for good fortune.
Your turn! Do you have any favorite red envelope memories? I’d love to hear from you in the comments section below!
Carla Crider
Hello,
I am traveling to Kunming at the end of October as part of a medical team. I and another RN will be assessing the faculty development needs of nurses at Second Hospital in Quijing. What would be an appropriate small gift of appreciation to bring to our hosts? I live in Texas and I was thinking a packet of Bluebonnet seeds (state flower of Texas). The other nurse is from New York. Do you have any suggestions?
Wes Radez
Hi Carla, you’re on the right track. Local gifts are prized in Asia, particularly so in China, so choosing a specialty from your neck of the woods is a great idea. ~Wes
russel
Hi,
what about chinese ampao or ang pao for the dead?
Wes Radez
Hi Russel, thanks for the suggestion. Yes, I need to add a section for the envelopes used at funerals. I’ll add it to my list. ~Wes
Yolanda Fernandez
My sister is going to be 75 years old. We are going to celebrate with friends and family. We are not Asian, but we want to give her money and put them in red envelopes. I want to provide envelopes for our friends and family to put their gifts in and present to her at her birthday party. What can you suggest for wording on the envelopes? I will need approximately 50 envelopes.
Wes Radez
Hi Yolanda, for a birthday, the most classic design would incorporate a Longevity character carrying wishes for a long and happy life. For adult parties, $88 (8 rhymes with the word for good luck) and $99 (for longevity) are positive symbolic amounts. ~Wes
Audrey
Hi Wes, My parents use to have some cool lai see envelopes from Hong Kong that had their surname “Young (Yeung)” on the front. Fancy looking. Do you make any like that?
I currently am here in HK right now lai see envelope hunting with NO success! I saw a 2014 internet suggestion on Jackson Street here in the Wan Chai District on HK Island. Any thoughts?
Wes Radez
Hi Audrey, lucky for you to be in HK! You’ll need a custom printer to make the family name lai see envelopes. If you search “custom red packets Hong Kong,” results should appear, though the smaller printing businesses are tougher to find these days. Once you’re back home, you can find many of the print shops online, where you can upload an image of your surname for printing and delivery by air mail. That may be your best shot. ~Wes
Wendy Palmer
Hi Wes, we are a New Zealander couple in our our 60s, visiting Beijing. We are staying in an Airbnb with a 26 year old, very social young woman, and her delightful 71 year old grandmother. They have made several meals for us and have been extra kind. Would it be appropriate to give them a red envelope to thank them and express friendship. Many thanks for your advice.
Wes Radez
Hi Wendy, rather than a red envelope, a small personal gift to show your appreciation would be most appropriate. ~Wes
wen y
Hello Wes,
I recently discovered your website and I enjoy navigating and making new discoveries.
Thank you for a job well done.
Wes Radez
Thank you for your kind words. Welcome! ~Wes