Usage note
压岁钱是春节时长辈给孩子的红包，代表祝福和好运。
Yā suì qián shì chūn jié shí zhǎng bèi gěi hái zi de hóng bāo, dài biǎo zhù fú hé hǎo yùn.
Lucky money is a red envelope given by elders to children during Spring Festival, representing blessings and good luck.
Context note
过年时，孩子们收到压岁钱会非常开心，通常用来买玩具或存起来。
Guò nián shí, hái zi men shōu dào yā suì qián huì fēi cháng kāi xīn, tōng cháng yòng lái mǎi wán jù huò cún qǐ lái.
During the New Year, children are very happy to receive lucky money, and they usually use it to buy toys or save it.
5 examples
奶奶给了我一百元压岁钱。
nǎi nai gěi le wǒ yì bǎi yuán yā suì qián。
Grandma gave me one hundred yuan of lucky money.
小明把压岁钱存进了银行。
xiǎo míng bǎ yā suì qián cún jìn le yín háng。
Xiao Ming deposited his lucky money into the bank.
压岁钱的红包上写着祝福的话。
yā suì qián de hóng bāo shàng xiě zhe zhù fú de huà。
On the red envelope of lucky money are written words of blessing.
孩子们喜欢数自己有多少压岁钱。
hái zi men xǐ huan shù zì jǐ yǒu duō shǎo yā suì qián。
Children like to count how much lucky money they have.
我用压岁钱买了一本故事书。
wǒ yòng yā suì qián mǎi le yì běn gù shì shū。
I used my lucky money to buy a storybook.
5 mini stories
春节到了，小红收到了很多压岁钱。她开心地数着红包。
chūn jié dào le， xiǎo hóng shōu dào le hěn duō yā suì qián。 tā kāi xīn dì shù zhe hóng bāo。
Spring Festival arrived, and Xiao Hong received a lot of lucky money. She happily counted the red envelopes.
小刚把压岁钱放进存钱罐里。他想存钱买一个足球。
xiǎo gāng bǎ yā suì qián fàng jìn cún qián guàn lǐ。 tā xiǎng cún qián mǎi yí gè zú qiú。
Xiao Gang put his lucky money into a piggy bank. He wants to save money to buy a soccer ball.
妈妈帮小丽保管压岁钱。她说等小丽长大再给她。
mā ma bāng xiǎo lì bǎo guǎn yā suì qián。 tā shuō děng xiǎo lì zhǎng dà zài gěi tā。
Mom helps Xiao Li keep her lucky money. She says she will give it to her when she grows up.
小华用压岁钱给爷爷买了一双手套。爷爷很高兴。
xiǎo huá yòng yā suì qián gěi yé ye mǎi le yì shuāng shǒu tào。 yé ye hěn gāo xìng。
Xiao Hua used his lucky money to buy a pair of gloves for Grandpa. Grandpa was very happy.
每年过年，我都期待收到压岁钱。我会好好珍惜它。
měi nián guò nián， wǒ dōu qī dài shōu dào yā suì qián。 wǒ huì hǎo hǎo zhēn xī tā。
Every New Year, I look forward to receiving lucky money. I will cherish it well.
Mini dialogue
收到压岁钱
A
新年快乐！这是你的压岁钱。
Xīnnián kuàilè! Zhè shì nǐ de yāsuìqián.
Happy New Year! Here is your lucky money.
B
谢谢奶奶！
Xièxie nǎinai!
Thank you, Grandma!
用压岁钱
A
你的压岁钱想买什么？
Nǐ de yāsuìqián xiǎng mǎi shénme?
What do you want to buy with your lucky money?
B
我想买一本故事书。
Wǒ xiǎng mǎi yī běn gùshì shū.
I want to buy a storybook.
Related words and contrasts
related
红包
hóngbāo
red envelope
The envelope containing lucky money
contrast
零花钱
línghuāqián
pocket money
Regular allowance, not just for New Year