Lai See

A GREAT article on 

the RULES of Lai See

Gifts for Chinese New Year – 

Lai See 

Red Envelopes in Hong Kong

Lai See Gift Giving Guide

By Rory Boland, About.com Guide

Remember most Chinatown's around the world are 

Cantonese,

so their rules of lai see gift giving will be the same 

as Hong Kong, not like Beijing or the mainland.

You can usually pick up these small red packets

from the stalls that spring up in Chinatowns in the

run up to Chinese New Year.

WHAT IS LAI SEE?

Lai See are small red and gold envelopes containing

money and are given at Chinese New Year.

The envelopes must be red and gold as these signify

prosperity and good luck.  Packets of dedicated Lai See

envelopes can be bought all over Hong Kong, including 

the Mong Kok ladies market and in Chinatowns around 

the world.  The giver and the recipient are believed to 

gain good luck from Lai See.

WHO RECEIVES LAI SEE?

The general rule of thumb with Lai See is that it's given 

from a senior to a junior.  For example, a resident to a

doorman, a boss to his employee, parents to children. ...

IF I GIVE, HOW MUCH SHOULD I GIVE & HOW?

Lai See amounts vary widely depending on who is the 

giver and the recipient.  There is no hard and fast rule.

HK $100 for doormen and waiters is fine.  Bosses, parents,

and couples giving to single friends are generally expected

to give a little more.

The money should be given in a single note, not in multiple

notes and should certainly never contain any coins.  The

notes used should be new, and Hong Kongers often queue

at the bank for hours in the days leading up to Chinese New

Year to obtain fresh notes.  The custom is said to show that

the giver was thinking about the receiver of the Lai See,

whereas if they're given used notes, it's believed they were

forgotten about.

It's also worth noting that the Cantonese word for four sounds

like the Cantonese word for death so HK$40 or HK$400 are 

considered bad luck.  The total money given should also be an

even number not an odd one, as odd numbers are for funerals.

So, HK$100, not HK$105.

The kids 
received 
Lai See 
from
Fred's 
employees.