It’s the most wonderful time of the year ✨ As the holidays are fast approaching, let’s brush up on heartwarming Christmas vocabulary and embrace the festive vibes!

How to say Merry Christmas in Chinese (and more)

01. Christmas Day

Let’s start by looking at the name of the holiday itself:

圣诞
Shèngdàn
Christmas
(lit.“holy/saint-to be born”)

圣诞节
Shèngdàn Jié
Christmas Day
(lit. “holy / saint-to be born-festival”)

平安夜
Píng’ān Yè
Christmas Eve

圣诞节快乐!
Shèngdàn jié kuàilè!
Merry Christmas!

 

02. Christmas Atmosphere

Shanghai’s Christmas decorations never fail to captivate. The city has infused a creative touch into Christmas with unique decorations that are popping up all across Shanghai.

圣诞氛围感
Shèngdàn fēnwéi gǎn
Christmas atmosphere

圣诞节装饰
Shèngdàn Jié zhuāngshì
Christmas decorations

When strolling through the charming alleys of Shanghai, it was impossible to miss one of the most remarkable decorations — a giant wall-climbing Santa Claus!

圣诞老人
Shèngdàn Lǎorén
Santa Claus / Father Christmas

巨型爬墙圣诞老人
Jùxíng pá qiáng Shèngdàn Lǎorén
Giant wall-climbing Santa Claus

This year, the snow season in Beijing stood out as the most magical decoration, bringing a festive mood to every resident.

雪季
xuě jì
snow season

雪花
xuě huā
snowflake

03. Christmas Market

Christmas market, known as 圣诞集市 (Shèngdàn jíshì) offers a festive array of seasonal delights and traditional treats.

Here are some of the typical meals and beverages you might come across the market:

热红酒
rè hóngjiǔ
mulled wine

蛋酒
dànjiǔ
eggnog

姜饼
jiāngbǐng
ginger cookies

拐棍糖
guǎigùn táng
candy cane

Goodies that make the market special:

礼物
lǐwù
present(s); gift(s)

圣诞毛衣
Shèngdàn máoyī
Christmas sweater

圣诞帽
Shèngdàn mào
Christmas hat

雪球
xuě qiú
snow globe

04. Christmas Items

Now, here are some of the things that come to mind when you think of Christmas.

圣诞树
Shèngdàn shù
Christmas tree

圣诞袜(子)
Shèngdàn wà(zi)
Christmas stockings

圣诞彩带
Shèngdàn cǎidài
Christmas garland

圣诞贺卡
Shèngdàn hèkǎ
Christmas card

花环
huāhuán
wreath

Get into a Festive Mood

Even though it’s June right now, learning how to say Merry Christmas in Chinese can be a fun way to get ready for the holiday season! Here’s why:

Spreads holiday cheer: Saying “Merry Christmas” in Chinese (圣诞快乐 – shèng dàn kuài lè) is a thoughtful way to greet friends, family, or even strangers during Christmas time. It shows you’re embracing the festive spirit!

Cultural connection: Learning this phrase opens the door to a bit of Chinese culture. Christmas isn’t a national holiday in China, but it’s commercially popular, especially in big cities. Knowing this greeting shows an interest in how other cultures celebrate.

Language learning boost: It’s a small but achievable language learning goal. Mastering this phrase can motivate you to learn more about Chinese, which can be a valuable skill.

Learning a simple phrase like this can be a fun way to get into the Christmas spirit!

🎄🎄🎄

圣诞快乐!
Shèngdàn kuàilè!
Merry Christmas!