red-envelope reward money; traditional gratuity
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesnoun
gratuity or reward money wrapped in red paper or red envelopes (in former times)
archaicRefers to a traditional Chinese custom, now largely historical, of wrapping monetary gifts in red paper or envelopes as rewards or gratuities to servants, workers, or performers.
Guò过
nián年
de的
shí时
hou候
，
dōng东
jia家
gěi给
huǒ伙
ji计
men们
fā发
le了
shǎng赏
fēng封
。
During the New Year, the employer gave red-envelope gratuities to the workers.
Nà那
shǎng赏
fēng封
shì是
yòng用
hóng红
zhǐ纸
bāo包
zhe着
de的
yín银
yuán元
。
That reward money was silver dollars wrapped in red paper.
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Jiù旧
shí时
pú仆
rén人
shōu收
dào到
shǎng赏
fēng封
，
zǒng总
yào要
kē磕
tóu头
xiè谢
ēn恩
。
In old times, when servants received red-envelope gratuities, they would always kowtow in thanks.