Young married couples who are giving out CNY Ang Baos for the very first time are often unsure how much Ang Bao money they ought to give, and whom they give to.
Here are 5 CNY Ang Bao tips to help you breeze through Chinese New Year like a seasoned veteran.
1. Give Ang Bao in figures starting or ending with number 8
In Chinese culture, “8” is an auspicious number. This is because the Mandarin pronunciation of “8” is similar to the Mandarin pronunciation of “发” which means striking a windfall. Examples are $8, $18, $28, $68, etc.
2. Don’t give Ang Bao in figures consisting of the number 4
The Chinese consider “4” as an unlucky number. This is because the Mandarin pronunciation of “4” is similar to the Mandarin pronunciation of “死” which means death.
3. Give Ang Bao in figures consisting of even numbers
“Even” is written as “双” in Mandarin. “双” means “a pair” and symbolizes “双双对对”. Examples are $2, $6, $8, $10, etc.
4. Know who you are supposed give Ang Baos to
According to Chinese New Year tradition, after your marriage you are supposed to give Ang Baos to your juniors who are single.
Your juniors may include your relative, friend, colleague, or even acquaintances who are younger than you.
5. Plan how much money to give
In general, the closer your relationship, the larger the amount of Ang Bao money you should give.
$2 should be the bare minimum because it is the smallest even number above a dollar.
6. Prepare extra dollar notes and Ang Bao packets just in case
At your CNY gatherings, you may meet someone you did not expect. This may be your friend’s children, or distant relative who just returned from overseas. Moreover if you have many relatives, there is also a possibility you may forget to prepare Ang Bao for a few of them. By preparing extra dollar notes and Angbao packets, you will be able to remedy the situation on the spot.
Giving Ang Baos can be a stressful affair for a first-timer, especially if you’ve just spent a lot of money on your wedding and new home. Don’t feel bad if you aren’t able to give Ang Bao to every colleague and their children.
At the end of the day, it is the thought that counts.
