<p>it means </p>

<blockquote>
  <p>Wish every day like this day and happiness come along
  to you in the following years.</p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-04-04T16:14:28.823Z
2012-04-04T16:14:28.823Z
Scott混合理论
<p>Many happy returns for the day</p>

<p>is the idiom-to-idiom translation with similar meaning and used in the same situation.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-08-18T08:49:31.343Z
2016-08-18T08:49:31.343Z
jf328
<p>Also, 年 and 岁 both mean "year" here.
年年 and 岁岁 mean "every year".</p>

<p>日 and 朝 both mean "day" here.
今日 and 今朝 mean "today".</p>

<p>It's some kind of duality.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-08-22T17:31:52.953Z
2016-08-22T17:31:52.953Z
Zesen Qian
<p>Em~ i think it's okay to use it whenever you are happy, and wish that you and your friends can enjoy a party, dinner or some else together next time. Although now it may particularly be used in birthday card, it is fine to used it in other places. (BTW. I think this phrase is used for everyone in every ages.)</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-04-24T16:55:54.730Z
2020-04-24T16:55:54.730Z
Ingrid
<p>It means “happy birthday”, and this sentence always says to elder people.Learn more Chinese expressions about happy birthday, read here：
<a href="http://www.hanbridgemandarin.com/article/daily-chinese-learning-tips/how-to-say-happy-birthday-in-chinese/" rel="nofollow">How to Say Happy Birthday in Chinese</a></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-09-01T04:18:09.730Z
2016-09-01T04:18:09.730Z
Lisa  Wang
<p>Most of times, it just means 'Happy birthday'</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-08-25T06:36:28.960Z
2016-08-25T06:36:28.960Z
Soony
<p>祝你年年有今日，歲歲有今朝。<br>
May you stay forever young.</p>

<p>(</p>

<p>May God bless and keep you always<br>
May your wishes all come true<br>
May you always do for others<br>
And let others do for you<br>
May you build a ladder to the stars<br>
And climb on every rung<br>
May you stay forever young</p>

<p>May you stay forever young</p>

<p>May you grow up to be righteous<br>
May you grow up to be true<br>
May you always know the truth<br>
And see the lights surrounding you<br>
May you always be courageous<br>
Stand upright and be strong<br>
May you stay forever young</p>

<p>May you stay forever young</p>

<p>May your hands always be busy<br>
May your feet always be swift<br>
May you have a strong foundation<br>
When the winds of changes shift<br>
May your heart always be joyful<br>
May your song always be sung  </p>

<p>and may you stay forever young</p>

<p>)</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-04-24T22:50:36.090Z
2020-04-24T22:50:36.090Z
Pedroski
<p>Both "年年有今日" and "歲歲有今朝" have the meaning of "May you have today's glory forever."</p>

<p>Usually it's wished upon people on their birthdays. The contextual meaning is "Although you are getting older as years pass by, I wish that you'll always have today's glory. And let today's good memory always be with you."</p>

<p>It is not used by a particular group. Other similar expressions include "祝你青春永驻", which means "may you have your youth forever".</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-02-03T05:57:27.897Z
Yes, and although 年年有今日，歲歲有今朝 is a good phrase, remember: don't use it in wedding.
Dante WWWW
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-02-03T14:07:04.753Z
haha that's right! LOL
Laguna
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-05-28T06:00:50.903Z
@coolcfan, why not in a wedding?? it's a good day too
azerafati
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-05-28T06:41:40.750Z
@Bludream cuz' its direct meaning is "having a day like today every year". So although it's used to express your best wishes, it's not very suitable for wedding -- have a wedding day every year?
Dante WWWW
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-02-02T16:43:27.780Z
2012-02-02T16:43:27.780Z
Laguna
<p>On my birthday a friend wished me "祝你年年有今日，歲歲有今朝". I can understand each of the individual words in this phrase, but the overall meaning is somewhat less clear to me (although I have some ideas about what it might mean). Searching around the web reveals many different translations into English, all with different nuances. :)</p>

<p>How would one translate this phrase into English, in such a way as to accurately preserve the meaning of the original idiom? Are there particular contexts in which one would use the expression? Is it used by (or for) people of a particular age group? Lastly, are there any other Chinese expressions that use a similar pattern?</p>

<expressions>
How should one translate "祝你年年有今日，歲歲有今朝" into English?
# How should one translate "祝你年年有今日，歲歲有今朝" into English?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2012-02-02)

On my birthday a friend wished me "祝你年年有今日，歲歲有今朝". I can understand each of the individual words in this phrase, but the overall meaning is somewhat less clear to me (although I have some ideas about what it might mean). Searching around the web reveals many different translations into English, all with different nuances. :)

How would one translate this phrase into English, in such a way as to accurately preserve the meaning of the original idiom? Are there particular contexts in which one would use the expression? Is it used by (or for) people of a particular age group? Lastly, are there any other Chinese expressions that use a similar pattern?

**Tags:** expressions


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## 8 answers

### Answer by username_8 on 2012-02-02. Score: 8 | Accepted answer

Both "年年有今日" and "歲歲有今朝" have the meaning of "May you have today's glory forever."

Usually it's wished upon people on their birthdays. The contextual meaning is "Although you are getting older as years pass by, I wish that you'll always have today's glory. And let today's good memory always be with you."

It is not used by a particular group. Other similar expressions include "祝你青春永驻", which means "may you have your youth forever".

> **Comments:**
> **username_9**: Yes, and although 年年有今日，歲歲有今朝 is a good phrase, remember: don't use it in wedding.  
> **username_8**: haha that's right! LOL  
> **username_10**: @coolcfan, why not in a wedding?? it's a good day too  
> **username_9**: @Bludream cuz' its direct meaning is "having a day like today every year". So although it's used to express your best wishes, it's not very suitable for wedding -- have a wedding day every year?  

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### Answer by username_1 on 2012-04-04. Score: 3

it means

> Wish every day like this day and happiness come along
> to you in the following years.


---

### Answer by username_2 on 2016-08-18. Score: 2

Many happy returns for the day

is the idiom-to-idiom translation with similar meaning and used in the same situation.


---

### Answer by username_3 on 2016-08-22. Score: 1

Also, 年 and 岁 both mean "year" here.
年年 and 岁岁 mean "every year".

日 and 朝 both mean "day" here.
今日 and 今朝 mean "today".

It's some kind of duality.


---

### Answer by username_4 on 2020-04-24. Score: 1

Em~ i think it's okay to use it whenever you are happy, and wish that you and your friends can enjoy a party, dinner or some else together next time. Although now it may particularly be used in birthday card, it is fine to used it in other places. (BTW. I think this phrase is used for everyone in every ages.)


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### Answer by username_5 on 2016-09-01. Score: 0

It means “happy birthday”, and this sentence always says to elder people.Learn more Chinese expressions about happy birthday, read here：
[How to Say Happy Birthday in Chinese](http://www.hanbridgemandarin.com/article/daily-chinese-learning-tips/how-to-say-happy-birthday-in-chinese/)


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### Answer by username_6 on 2016-08-25. Score: 0

Most of times, it just means 'Happy birthday'


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### Answer by username_7 on 2020-04-24. Score: -1

祝你年年有今日，歲歲有今朝。  
May you stay forever young.

(

May God bless and keep you always  
May your wishes all come true  
May you always do for others  
And let others do for you  
May you build a ladder to the stars  
And climb on every rung  
May you stay forever young

May you stay forever young

May you grow up to be righteous  
May you grow up to be true  
May you always know the truth  
And see the lights surrounding you  
May you always be courageous  
Stand upright and be strong  
May you stay forever young

May you stay forever young

May your hands always be busy  
May your feet always be swift  
May you have a strong foundation  
When the winds of changes shift  
May your heart always be joyful  
May your song always be sung

and may you stay forever young

)


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