Definition
红包 (hóng bāo) is a red envelope with money inside, given as a gift during Chinese New Year, weddings, or other celebrations. It can also mean 'bonus' (more festive than 奖金, which is a work-performance bonus) and, informally, a 'bribe' (a milder euphemism compared to the direct term 贿赂).
noun
red envelope (cash gift given during festivals or special occasions)bonus (monetary gift from a company or organization)(sometimes pejorative) kickbackbribe
Examples
- 红包。Māma gěi le wǒ yí gè hóng bāo.Mom gave me a red envelope.
- 。Gōngsī jīnnián gěi měi ge yuángōng fā le yí ge dà hóng bāo.The company gave each employee a big bonus this year.
- ，红包。Jiéhūn de shíhou, kèrén huì gěi xīnrén hóng bāo.At weddings, guests give red envelopes to the newlyweds.
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