招财进宝
zhāo cái jìn bǎo
to bring in wealth and treasure (a New Year wish for business)
Character by character
招zhāo
attract
attract
财cái
wealth
wealth
进jìn
bring in
bring in
宝bǎo
treasure
treasure
Example
春节前，小卖部的门上贴了一张红纸，上面写着“招财进宝”。
Before Spring Festival a sheet of red paper went up on the corner shop’s door, reading “wealth and treasure come in”.
Tone: positive (praise).
Usage and origin
A wish for shopkeepers and businesses, pasted on doors and tills at New Year; it is often written as one combined “character” made of the four. Said to friends who open a business, alongside 生意兴隆.
Learn this in Lesson 45 · HSK 5–6: 灶王爷与财神 (The household gods)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
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