All words ›Xin nian kuai le
PhraseHow to pronounce “Xin nian kuai le” (happy new year)
新年快乐xīn nián kuài lè
Literally: new year happy.
❌ What English speakers usually say
“shin nee-an kwai lee”
✅ What to say instead
sheen nyen kwye luh — flat, rising, falling, falling
The shape of the word
Tap any syllable to hear it. The curve above each one is the tone you are aiming for.
Syllable by syllable
| Syllable | Tone | Practise it |
|---|---|---|
| 新 xīn | First tone — high and flat | xin — open drill → |
| 年 nián | Second tone — rising | nian — open drill → |
| 快 kuài | Fourth tone — sharp fall | kuai — open drill → |
| 乐 lè | Fourth tone — sharp fall | le — open drill → |
Questions people ask
How do you pronounce Xin nian kuai le?
Xin nian kuai le is 新年快乐, xīn nián kuài lè — sheen nyen kwye luh — flat, rising, falling, falling. Literally it means new year happy.
What is the most common mistake with Xin nian kuai le?
“shin nee-an kwai lee”
More words people mispronounce
Can you actually say it?
Reading a respelling is not the same as producing the tones. The free 2-minute check listens to you and shows which syllables land wrong.