Meanings
plural red envelopes
- In Chinese communities, a decorated paper envelope, traditionally red, containing a gift of money (lucky money) presented during special occasions such as birthdays, weddings, and the Chinese New Year; also, the gift of money presented in such an envelope.
Synonyms: red bag, red packet, angpao, ang pow, hongbao, lai see
Synonyms & antonyms
nounIn Chinese communities, a decorated paper envelope, traditionally red, containing a gift of money (lucky money) presented during special occasions such as birthdays, weddings, and the Chinese New Year; also, the gift of money presented in such an envelope.
Origin
Translations
Chinese Cantonese 利市, 封包
- 利市a decorated paper envelope containing lucky money
- 封包 (fung¹ baau¹)a decorated paper envelope containing lucky money
Chinese Mandarin 紅包 /红包
- 紅包 /红包 (hóngbāo)a decorated paper envelope containing lucky money
Indonesian angpau
- angpaua decorated paper envelope containing lucky money
Malay angpau
- angpaua decorated paper envelope containing lucky money
Tagalog ampaw
- ampawa decorated paper envelope containing lucky money
Thai อั่งเปา
- อั่งเปา (àng-bpao)a decorated paper envelope containing lucky money
Vietnamese bao lì xì
- bao lì xìa decorated paper envelope containing lucky money
Cite this entry
red envelope. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/red%20envelope
“red envelope.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/red%20envelope. Accessed November 3, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “red envelope,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/red%20envelope.
Source: red envelope on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.