Shèngdàn kuàilè! - Merry Christmas!

Although Christmas is not one of the traditional Chinese celebrations, it is good to know some related mandarin phrases... just in case you happen to run into Santa Claus in China!

Merry Christmas is Shèngdàn kuàilè! in Chinese. Shèng means “holy", dàn means "birth", kuàilè is "happy, merry". In Chinese, Christmas is thus a happy celebration of the Holy Birth, which indicates that the tradition and meaning of Christmas is purely of western and Christian origin.

The Chinese are usually familiar with the story of the birth of Jesus, but just like in many western countries, Christmas has turned into what is merely a major commercial event. Shopping centers put up decorations for Christmas to attract more customers and to boost sales, and it is by no means strange to meet the Santa Claus, Shèngdàn lǎorén, in a Beijing shopping mall.

There are also lots of Christmas trees, mostly plastic ones, all around Chinese streets and shops. Christmas tree is shèngdàn shù in Chinese. The Chinese also fancy Christmas songs, although sometimes they are not too particular about whether they are played during the actual Christmas time or any other time of the year. Christmas cards, shèngdànkǎ, are also available in many Chinese shops.

During Christmas, churches are crowded in China too, as people take part in the Christmas mass, mí sa in Chinese.

The vocabulary below will help you get through Christmas in China:

Shèngdàn kuàilè! 圣 诞 快 乐 = Merry Christmas!
shèngdàn 圣 诞 = Christmas (s.)
kuàilè 快 乐 = happy, merry (adj.)
shèngdàn shù 圣 诞 树 = Christmas tree (s.), (shù = tree)
lǐwù 礼 物 = present (s.)
shèngdàn lǎorén 圣 诞 老 人= Santa Claus (s.)
shèngdànjié 圣 诞 节 = Christmas/ Christmas festival (s.), jié = festival
jiào táng 教 堂 = church (s.)
mí sa 弥 撒 = mass (s.)
shèngdànyè 圣 诞 夜 = Christmas Eve (s.), yè = night
shèngdànkǎ 圣 诞 卡 = Christmas card (s.)