Meanings
nounlai see (countable and uncountable, plural lai sees)
plural lai sees
- Hong KongcountableuncountableLucky money, usually coming in red envelopes for Chinese New Year.
Even though we're still in the middle of Chinese New Year holiday week, it doesn't feel like Chinese New Year this year. People aren't handing out lai sees on the street. Lai sees are red packets filled with money, and every year around this time, I always get a bunch from strangers on the street.
2022, Kelly Yang, New From Here, page 5
Synonyms & antonyms
Origin
- Cantonese利市
- Englishlai see
From Cantonese 利市 (lai6 si6).
More words from Cantonese
Full word history & related roots →Cite this entry
APA
lai see. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/lai%20see
MLA
“lai see.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/lai%20see. Accessed November 4, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “lai see,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/lai%20see.
Source: lai see on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.