"kung hei fat choy!" (1 Viewer)

[Iron Brigade]

I just recently got an E-mail from King & Country (K&C) Headquarters in Hong Kong relative to me being a Collectors Club member that in the subject title of the E-mail said "Kung Hei Fat Choy!". I do not know what than means, but I know it relates to the Chinese Lunar New Year of The Dragon which starts on January 23, 2012 and ends on February 9, 2013. Perhaps someone from Asia may gave me an interpetation in English?

The E-mail from K&C in Hong Kong also noted that the "Dragon" is said to be a "Deliverer of good fortune and a master of authority". In any case, I want to wish all those in Asia and else where who celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year a Happy New Year of the Dragon next week!

Lastly, my two year membership in K&C's Collector's Club ends on 31 January 2012. I will not be renewing my membership the end of January as there are currently no Collector's Club figures that I want to have. However, I may well rejoin again when K&C issues some club figures that I want to add to my displays.

"Iron Brigade"

 

[jazzeum]

This is in Cantonese and means more or less "May prosperity be with you."

The Mandarin version, which is what most people speak in China (including my wife's family), is Gong Xi Fa Cai, which means more or less the same thing or "Happy New Year!"

 

[Iron Brigade]

This is in Cantonese and means more or less "May prosperity be with you."

The Mandarin version, which is what most people speak in China (including my wife's family), is Gong Xi Fa Cai, which means more or less the same thing or "Happy New Year!"

View attachment 84401

Dear "Jazzeum":

Thank you very much for your comments!

"Iron Brigade" / Gary

 

[jazzeum]

Gary,

Glad to help out!

Brad

 

[glossman]

Hi Gary,

Brad has done a great job in explaining the K&C greeting in his post.

The "Prosperity" greeting is:

Gong Xi Fa Cai (Mandarin) or Kung Hei Fat Choy (Cantonese)

As Brad has stated, this means "May prosperity be with you." The direct translation is "Congratulations_Be Prosperous".

The "Happy New Year" greeting is:

Xin Nian Kuai Le (Mandarin) or Sun Nean Fai Lok (Cantonese)

In brief, the Lunar New Year celebration is characterised by goodwill and reconciliation. The family Reunion Dinner on the Eve of the first day of the Lunar New Year is the most important event for local Chinese.

Hope that helps.

Best Wishes, Raymond

 

[chocolate mousse]

Too bad it doesn't translate to "we are lowering prices"

 

[Iron Brigade]

Hi Gary,

Brad has done a great job in explaining the K&C greeting in his post.

The "Prosperity" greeting is:

Gong Xi Fa Cai (Mandarin) or Kung Hei Fat Choy (Cantonese)

As Brad has stated, this means "May prosperity be with you." The direct translation is "Congratulations_Be Prosperous".

The "Happy New Year" greeting is:

Xin Nian Kuai Le (Mandarin) or Sun Nean Fai Lok (Cantonese)

In brief, the Lunar New Year celebration is characterised by goodwill and reconciliation. The family Reunion Dinner on the Eve of the first day of the Lunar New Year is the most important event for local Chinese.

Hope that helps.

Best Wishes, Raymond

Dear Raymond:

Yes, Brad ("Jazzeum") posted a colorful and detailed reply back to my initial posting about my E-mail from K&C in Hong Kong and thier greeting to me in Chinese (Cantonese). And your further detailed comments were a finishing touch! I was aware of the two dialects of Cantonese & Manderin. Apparently the Hong Kong area uses Cantonese, but I have no idea what general areas of China go with Manderin and what areas go with Cantonese. If I was advised of this in the past I have forgotten. Can you or Brad come up with that information as well?

Good luck with your "Reunion Dinner on the eve of the new Lunar New Year of the Dragon!

Gary

 

[jazzeum]

Gary,

Cantonese is spoken in Southern China, which includes Hong Kong. It's considered a dialect by some as the national language is Mandarin. For example, they speak Mandarin in Shanghai, where Rick Wang of Figarti hails from. My wife's family comes from Wuxi, northwest of Shanghai and they not only speak Mandarin but Wuxi, a local dialect. Many parts of China have their own dialect. Much of the Chinese you hear in the US today is Cantonese as a lot of migrants that came to the US in the 19th century were from Canton.

Notwithstanding the language differences the written characters the same.

Raymond, please correct me if any of that is wrong.

Brad

 

[Mitch]

I will have it with noodles!!! Thanks
Mitch

 

[Rob]

' Kung hei fat choy ' to all at K&C and on the forum.

I see the office is closed monday, tuesday and wednesday next week, enjoy your holiday guys:salute::

Rob

 

[Iron Brigade]

Too bad it doesn't translate to "we are lowering prices"

Hello "chocolate mousse":

Yes indeed, it is too bad it does not mean "we are lowering our prices". That is not going to happen any time in the near future apparently.

"Iron Brigade"

 

[Iron Brigade]

Gary,

Cantonese is spoken in Southern China, which includes Hong Kong. It's considered a dialect by some as the national language is Mandarin. For example, they speak Mandarin in Shanghai, where Rick Wang of Figarti hails from. My wife's family comes from Wuxi, northwest of Shanghai and they not only speak Mandarin but Wuxi, a local dialect. Many parts of China have their own dialect. Much of the Chinese you hear in the US today is Cantonese as a lot of migrants that came to the US in the 19th century were from Canton.

Notwithstanding the language differences the written characters the same.

Raymond, please correct me if any of that is wrong.

Brad

Dear Brad / "Jazzeum":

Thank you very much again for your additional information! Let's see if Raymond ("Glossman") from Singapore has anything more to say about this subject.

Happy New Year of the Dragon to you, Raymond and to all members at the Forum who have an interest in this subject, Best regards, Gary ("Iron Brigade")

 

[glossman]

Dear Brad / "Jazzeum":

Thank you very much again for your additional information! Let's see if Raymond ("Glossman") from Singapore has anything more to say about this subject.

Happy New Year of the Dragon to you, Raymond and to all members at the Forum who have an interest in this subject, Best regards, Gary ("Iron Brigade")

Hi Gary,

Brad has said it so well that I have not much to add.

My dedicated "amah-cheh" is Cantonese and from Guangdong province in Southern China. She has been with my family for more than 50 years and her devotion and loyalty is without parallel. It is for that reason that K&C HK001 is so important to me.

The K&C HK001 figure is a very good representation of my "amah-cheh" in her younger days. I have taken the liberty to post your photograph of HK001 here.



Thanks very much for your well wishes for the Lunar New Year.

Best Wishes, Raymond.

 

[Iron Brigade]

Hi Gary,

Brad has said it so well that I have not much to add.

My dedicated "amah-cheh" is Cantonese and from Guangdong province in Southern China. She has been with my family for more than 50 years and her devotion and loyalty is without parallel. It is for that reason that K&C HK001 is so important to me.

The K&C HK001 figure is a very good representation of my "amah-cheh" in her younger days. I have taken the liberty to post your photograph of HK001 here.

View attachment 84482

Thanks very much for your well wishes for the Lunar New Year.

Best Wishes, Raymond.

Hello Raymond:

Thanks again for another posting from you on the Thread I started just a short time ago. Ah, yes I remember very well your noting your splendid nanny or "amah-cheh" by you back in 2009 & 2010. I was happy to pass on the vintage K&C HK001 set figure (noted on the left side of the photo) to you via a private transaction between us some time ago. As I recall you also obtained another old K&C HK set from me that could have related to you and your nanny when you were about 5 years old or so. I was pleased to have you get these particular sets as they meant so much more to you than they did to me. It is very apparent that you have great devotion and loyalty for your nanny as well. My brief Online Internet research would indicate that "Guangdong Province, China" is in the Hong Kong area of China, I am correct?

Happy New Year of the Dragon to you and your family,
Gary

 

[Iron Brigade]

Hello:

I just want to thank all those members who have posted comments to this Thread I started.

Best regards, "Iron Brigade" / Gary