Red envelopes (known as hóngbāo in Mandarin, lì xì in Vietnamese, and pochi-bukuro in Japanese) are a centuries-old tradition of gifting money inside a red packet. The colour red symbolises luck and prosperity in Chinese culture.
When they are given
- Lunar New Year — adults give to children and unmarried younger relatives
- Weddings — given as a gift by guests in place of or alongside physical presents
- Chinese New Year and other festivals — between family members and employers to employees
How much to give
Amounts vary by relationship and occasion. Round numbers are preferred; avoid the number 4 (associated with death in Chinese culture). Crisp, new notes are traditional. Digital red envelopes are now common via WeChat Pay and Alipay.
Receiving etiquette
Accept a red envelope with both hands, not one — this is a small but genuinely noticed courtesy. Never open it in front of the giver; set it aside and open it later in private. Opening it immediately can come across as focusing on the amount rather than the gesture, which is considered impolite regardless of the giver's intentions.
Red is not the only colour — funerals use white
This is worth knowing precisely because it's the opposite convention: money given at a Chinese funeral goes in a white envelope, not red, and the amount should be an odd number — the reverse of the even-numbers-preferred rule for celebratory red envelopes. Giving a red envelope or an even amount at a funeral is a genuine etiquette mistake, not a minor stylistic choice.
Regional name variants
Beyond hóngbāo (Mandarin), lì xì (Vietnamese) and pochi-bukuro (Japanese), the tradition also goes by lai see in Cantonese-speaking regions (Hong Kong, Guangdong) and ang pow or ang pao in Hokkien-influenced Southeast Asian communities (Singapore, Malaysia) — the practice is broadly the same, though expected amounts and specific customs vary somewhat by region.