what does 利是 mean?

**JimmySeal** · Feb 23, 2007, 15:09

I just received a piece of candy with the characters 利是 on it. Actually the 日 at the top of 是 is sideways like in 免, but I think it's the same character. Anyway, does this combination mean anything?

**leonmarino** · Feb 23, 2007, 16:50

I did some Googling and found a few China-related pages.. My best guess is that it means the same as the Japanese Otosidama. Ah, here is a even better page.

**JimmySeal** · Feb 23, 2007, 22:18

Ah, that makes sense. I received a "利是袋" along with the candy, but 利是 wasn't printed anywhere on that, though there is a large pig.

**fin1990** · Feb 28, 2007, 12:10

Actually "利是" has a meaning of wish you lucky.
It is similar to お年玉 in Japan.

"利是" can also called 紅包 or 紅封包 , ( in Cantonese, we used to call it 利是 rather than 紅包 or 紅封包, I think 紅包 or 紅封包 are used more often in in Mandarin.)

利是 is a little red paper made pocket filled with money. It acts as a present in many Chinese tranditional festival. Giving each other 利是 is a custom in China. The most common practise is to give 利是 to each other in Chinese New Year, wedding and birthday. Red colour represent happy and lucky in Chinese, so 利是 is in red colour.

Usually, only married ones give 利是 to others. Unmarried one no need. (but all people can receive 利是). However, these custom has changed a little bit. In some offices, unmarried one also need to give 利是 to others, I think this custom is diferent in different offices.