When Mandarin learners first encounter the term "red envelope" (hóngbāo, 紅包), they often associate it exclusively with Lunar New Year. And it's true, receiving a crisp red envelope filled with cash is one of every Taiwanese child's highlights during Lunar New Year (nóng lì xīn nián, 農曆新年) celebrations. But in reality, red envelopes are woven into Taiwanese culture all year round, appearing at weddings, office parties, and temple rituals.
This article takes you beyond the Lunar New Year stereotype to explore Taiwan's rich and evolving red envelope culture. From when to give and how much to give, to what to write and how red envelopes have become corporate design icons, we'll guide you through the customs and curiosities of this meaningful tradition.
When Are Red Envelopes Given in Taiwan?
While Lunar New Year is the most internationally recognized occasion for red envelopes, in Taiwan they serve many other purposes. Here are some of the most common:
Weddings
At Taiwanese weddings (hūn lǐ, 婚禮), rather than bringing physical gifts, guests are expected to give money at the reception before entering the venue. This gift money (lǐ jīn, 禮金), wrapped in red envelopes, is seen as the guests' contribution to help cover banquet costs and their blessing to the newlyweds (xīn rén, 新人; literally "new people"). The amount depends on your relationship with the couple and the scale of the wedding, and this will be covered later in the article.
Employee Bonuses
Red envelopes are commonly used for year-end bonuses (nián zhōng jiǎng jīn, 年終獎金) or other small monetary gifts throughout the year as a gesture of appreciation from employers to staff. They may also be given on company opening days or during annual parties.
Warding Off Bad Luck (壓驚 / 沖喜)
In temples or homes, red envelopes are sometimes given to ward off misfortune. These may be offered to someone who has experienced a frightening incident or is recovering from illness.
In certain occupations, red envelopes are also given as a way to counteract unlucky omens with positive energy. For example, Taiwanese actors usually receive a red envelope from the production team after filming a death or injury scene. This red envelope typically contains only a small amount, ranging from ten to a hundred NTD (approximately 30 cents to 3 USD). According to local custom, the actor must spend this gift money on the same day before returning home to avoid lingering bad luck.
Celebrating Milestones
Red envelopes are also given during other significant life events. These include a baby's one-month celebration (mǎn yuè, 滿月; literally "fulfilling the month"), when families celebrate the infant's first milestone and often invite relatives and friends to share in their joy. Birthdays, particularly for elders, are another common occasion where red envelopes express respect and wishes for longevity. Additionally, graduations and retirements mark important transitions in life, and red envelopes given during these times symbolize congratulations for past achievements and good wishes for the future.
How Much Should You Give?
Knowing when to give is one thing; knowing how much to give is another. In Taiwan, the amount you put in a red envelope is a matter of social awareness, and it often varies by the type of event, location, and venue level. Since market rates (háng qíng, 行情) can be rather complex even for locals, people often consult online references to get a general idea of appropriate amounts. For instance, there are posts that outline expected red envelope rates for wedding attendance in Taipei—and yes, these amounts increase yearly due to inflation.
Cultural Notes for Other Occasions:
Red envelopes aren't just about cash; they're about thoughtfulness and respect. Keep these tips in mind when preparing your red envelopes:
- Even numbers bring good luck (except for 4, which sounds like "death" in Mandarin)
- Avoid coins; always use paper bills, preferably crisp and new ones
- Closer relationships warrant larger amounts
Extra Blessings on Red Envelopes?
In more formal or traditional settings, people write auspicious phrases on the envelope to express goodwill and blessings. This handwritten text adds sincerity and style to your gift, transforming a simple monetary gift into a more meaningful gesture that reflects thoughtfulness and cultural understanding.
What exactly do you write on your red envelopes? Different occasions call for different blessings, and there are sets of positive idioms usually associated with their respective contexts. This can be complex for foreign Mandarin learners, so here we've compiled a list of phrases tailored to each occasion:
Weddings:
- 百年好合 (bǎi nián hǎo hé): Wishing you a long-lasting and harmonious union
- 永浴愛河 (yǒng yù ài hé): May you bathe in love forever
- 佳偶天成 (jiā ǒu tiān chéng): You are a match made in heaven
- 白頭偕老 (bái tóu xié lǎo): May your hair grow gray together
Lunar New Year:
- 新年快樂 (xīn nián kuài lè): Happy New Year
- 新春如意 (xīn chūn rú yì): May the upcoming spring be full of good fortune for you
- 恭喜發財 (gōng xǐ fā cái): Wishing you good luck and wealth
- 年年有餘 (nián nián yǒu yú): May you have surplus year after year
- 大吉大利 (dà jí dà lì): Wishing you great fortune and prosperity
For Children and Students:
- 學業進步 (xué yè jìn bù): Wishing you academic success
- 前程似錦 (qián chéng sì jǐn): May your future be a brocade of bright and colourful promise (A good choice for graduation red envelopes!)
- 鵬程萬里 (péng chéng wàn lǐ): Wishing you a bright future with boundless prospects (Another good choice for graduation red envelopes!)
For Elders:
- 身體健康 (shēn tǐ jiàn kāng): Wishing you good health
- 福壽雙全 (fú shòu shuāng quán): May you be blessed with both fortune and longevity
- 松鶴延年 (sōng hè yán nián): May you enjoy longevity like the evergreen pine and the graceful crane
Other Occasions:
- 萬事如意 (wàn shì rú yì): May all go as you wish
- 心想事成 (xīn xiǎng shì chéng): May all your wishes come true
- 大展鴻圖 (dà zhǎn hóng tú): May your grand ambitions be fulfilled (A good choice for someone starting a new career or business)
- 步步高升 (bù bù gāo shēng): May you rise steadily step by step (A good choice for workplace promotions)
- 財源廣進 (cái yuán guǎng jìn): May wealth flow in from all directions
When writing these blessings by hand, it's important to understand that the placement and style follow certain conventions that demonstrate cultural awareness and respect. Above is the traditional positioning format for handwritten blessings to ensure your gesture honors the cultural significance of the red envelope tradition. Following proper format shows that you understand not just what to write, but how to present it appropriately within Taiwanese cultural norms.
Modern Envelopes: A New Design Battleground
In recent years, red envelopes in Taiwan have undergone stylish transformations. While traditional envelopes are bright red and adorned with calligraphy or patterns that symbolize good luck, modern designs are breaking away from this classic aesthetic.
A new wave of young designers is introducing red envelopes that aren't even red—they can be burgundy and pink, or even navy blue and green with just a hint of red foil. These modern envelopes often feature playful illustration or culturally witty messages, challenging the conventional idea of what a red envelope should look like. So next time you see a red envelope that's not actually red, don't be surprised!
Also worth noting is how red envelope design has become a fierce branding competition in recent years. Each year before Lunar New Year, banks, insurance companies, luxury designer brands, and global tech corporations send out empty red envelope packs (no conflict of interest!) with exclusive designs as annual gifts for their clients and employees. These envelopes—some elegant and embossed, others novel and collectible—are later given out by clients and employees to their families and loved ones, serving as a subtle yet powerful form of brand communication.
For companies, this represents more than just seasonal marketing. A thoughtfully designed red envelope reflects the company's personality, values, and creative ability to innovate within local traditions while respecting cultural nuances. As a result, netizens eagerly anticipate and compare designs between major companies, sparking conversations across social media and online forums about which envelopes are the most beautiful, clever, or collectible.
Don't Pick Up That Envelope!
While red envelopes are often seen as tokens of joy, good fortune, and social connection, Taiwanese folklore reminds us that not every hóngbāo is meant to bring blessings. In a tradition known as mínghūn (冥婚), or ghost marriage, families of deceased unmarried individuals may arrange symbolic marriages between the living and the dead. To initiate such a union, they might discreetly place a red envelope on the street containing money and sometimes a lock of hair or a fingernail, hoping that someone will pick it up.
According to superstition, whoever picks up the envelope is considered to have unknowingly agreed to marry the deceased. This belief is especially prevalent in rural areas and among older generations. Although fewer people take it literally today, the cautionary saying still circulates widely: 地上的紅包不要亂撿, meaning "Don't pick up red envelopes off the ground!"
A Red Envelope, A World of Meaning
In Taiwan, red envelopes are more than just money pouches. They represent relationships, rituals, wishes, and community values. From joyous weddings to solemn rituals, they convey more than cash. They carry emotion, meaning, and (mostly) good intentions.
For Mandarin learners, understanding red envelope culture opens a window into the deeper social norms of Taiwanese society. So next time you receive (or give) one, take a moment to appreciate the tradition behind the bright red paper.
Mandarin Vocabulary Recap:
- 紅包 (hóngbāo): Red envelope
- 農曆新年 (nóng lì xīn nián): Lunar New Year
- 婚禮 (hūn lǐ): Wedding
- 禮金 (lǐjīn): Gift money
- 新人 (xīn rén): The newlywed couple
- 年終獎金 (nián zhōng jiǎng jīn): Year-end bonus
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