what does 窶藩慊青･ mean?

**JimmySeal** · Feb 23, 2007, 16:09

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, 17:50

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, 23:18

Ah, that makes sense. I received a "窶藩慊青･窶佚�" along with the candy, but 窶藩慊青･ wasn't printed anywhere on that, though there is a large pig.

**fin1990** · Feb 28, 2007, 13:10

Actually "窶藩慊青･" has a meaning of wish you lucky.
It is similar to 窶堋ｨ窶扼窶ｹﾃ� in Japan.

"窶藩慊青･" can also called ﾂ紅窶｢ﾃｯ or ﾂ紅窶｢窶｢窶｢ﾃｯ , ( in Cantonese, we used to call it 窶藩慊青･ rather than ﾂ紅窶｢ﾃｯ or ﾂ紅窶｢窶｢窶｢ﾃｯ, I think ﾂ紅窶｢ﾃｯ or ﾂ紅窶｢窶｢窶｢ﾃｯ are used more often in in Mandarin.)

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

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