wàn shì rú yì: 万事如意 - May Everything Go As You Wish

• Keywords: wanshiruyi, 万事如意, Chinese New Year greeting, may all your wishes come true, may everything go well, Chinese blessing, Chinese good luck phrase, wàn shì rú yì meaning, traditional Chinese wishes.
• Summary: 万事如意 (wàn shì rú yì) is a classic and widely used Chinese blessing that translates to “May everything go as you wish” or “May all your wishes come true.” It is one of the most popular greetings during Chinese New Year and other significant life events like weddings or birthdays. More than a simple “good luck,” this four-character idiom conveys a deep, holistic hope for a person's life to be filled with success, happiness, and smooth sailing in all their endeavors. Understanding the meaning of wanshiruyi is key to appreciating the culture of well-wishing in China.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): wàn shì rú yì
• Part of Speech: Chengyu (四字成语) / Set Phrase
• HSK Level: HSK 5
• Concise Definition: May ten thousand matters unfold according to your wishes.
• In a Nutshell: “Wàn shì rú yì” is a profound and traditional expression of goodwill. It's a blanket blessing for someone's entire life or a significant period, like the coming year. Think of it as wishing someone a life where every plan, big or small, works out perfectly and without any problems. It carries a heavy weight of sincerity and is reserved for moments that truly matter.

• 万 (wàn): Originally a pictogram of a scorpion, this character was borrowed to mean “ten thousand.” In this context and many others, it functions as a superlative, meaning “countless,” “a great many,” or simply “all.”
• 事 (shì): This character means “matter,” “affair,” “thing,” or “business.” It refers to any event or undertaking in life.
• 如 (rú): This means “as,” “like,” or “to follow.” It signifies conformity or accordance.
• 意 (yì): This character represents “wish,” “will,” “desire,” or “intention.” It is composed of “sound” (音) over “heart” (心), suggesting the inner voice of one's heart.

When combined, 万事如意 (wàn shì rú yì) literally translates to “ten thousand matters according to your wish,” beautifully capturing the sentiment of wishing someone a life free of friction, where their personal will aligns perfectly with their reality.

“Wàn shì rú yì” is deeply embedded in Chinese culture, reflecting a collective desire for harmony, stability, and prosperity. It's not just a wish for active success, but for a life that flows smoothly, a concept highly valued in philosophies like Taoism. A Western equivalent like “All the best” or “I wish you success” doesn't quite capture the same scope. Western well-wishes are often tied to a specific, imminent event (e.g., “Good luck on your exam!”). 万事如意 is holistic and long-term. You are wishing someone a fundamentally smooth and successful *existence* for the foreseeable future, not just success in a single task. It's a blessing for their career, family, health, and personal projects—for all “ten thousand matters.” This highlights a cultural value of seeing a person's life as an interconnected whole, where balance and harmony are the ultimate goals.

This phrase is formal, sincere, and most appropriate for celebratory or significant occasions.

• Chinese New Year (春节 - Chūnjié): This is the most common context. It is said when greeting people, written on red envelopes (红包 - hóngbāo), and displayed on New Year decorations (春联 - chūnlián). It is often paired with other greetings like `恭喜发财 (gōngxǐ fācái)`.
• Birthdays and Weddings: It is a perfect blessing to write in a card or to say to someone on their birthday (especially an elder) or to a newly married couple, wishing them a lifetime of happiness together.
• New Beginnings: When someone starts a new job, opens a business, or embarks on a major life journey, `万事如意` is a powerful way to express your support and hope for their long-term success.

It is generally too formal for casual, everyday situations. You wouldn't say it to a friend who is just going to the supermarket.

• Example 1:
  • 祝你新的一年万事如意，心想事成！
  • Pinyin: Zhù nǐ xīn de yī nián wàn shì rú yì, xīn xiǎng shì chéng!
  • English: Wishing you that everything goes as you wish and all your dreams come true in the new year!
  • Analysis: This is a classic Chinese New Year greeting, often said to friends, family, and colleagues. It pairs `万事如意` with its close synonym `心想事成` for extra emphasis.
• Example 2:
  • 祝您生日快乐，身体健康，万事如意！
  • Pinyin: Zhù nín shēngrì kuàilè, shēntǐ jiànkāng, wàn shì rú yì!
  • English: Happy birthday! I wish you good health and that everything goes as you wish!
  • Analysis: A very common and respectful birthday wish, especially for parents, grandparents, or elders. Note the use of `您 (nín)`, the formal “you.”
• Example 3:
  • 在新公司要好好干，祝你万事如意！
  • Pinyin: Zài xīn gōngsī yào hǎohǎo gàn, zhù nǐ wàn shì rú yì!
  • English: Work hard at the new company, I wish you success in everything!
  • Analysis: Used to encourage a friend or family member starting a new job. It conveys a hope for their entire career path at the company, not just their first day.
• Example 4:
  • 干杯！祝大家在新的一年里万事如意！
  • Pinyin: Gānbēi! Zhù dàjiā zài xīn de yī nián lǐ wàn shì rú yì!
  • English: Cheers! Wishing everyone that all things go as you wish in the new year!
  • Analysis: A perfect phrase for a toast at a New Year's Eve dinner or company annual party.
• Example 5:
  • 谢谢你的礼物！也祝你万事如意！
  • Pinyin: Xièxiè nǐ de lǐwù! Yě zhù nǐ wàn shì rú yì!
  • English: Thank you for your gift! I also wish that everything goes well for you!
  • Analysis: A polite and common way to reciprocate a well-wish.
• Example 6:
  • 在贺卡上，他写了“祝新婚快乐，万事如意”。
  • Pinyin: Zài hèkǎ shàng, tā xiěle “zhù xīnhūn kuàilè, wàn shì rú yì”.
  • English: On the greeting card, he wrote “Wishing you a happy marriage and that everything goes as you wish.”
  • Analysis: Demonstrates its use in written form for a wedding. It wishes the couple a smooth and happy life together.
• Example 7:
  • 人生不如意之事十有八九，想万事如意太难了。
  • Pinyin: Rénshēng bùrúyì zhī shì shí yǒu bājiǔ, xiǎng wàn shì rú yì tài nánle.
  • English: In life, things that don't go as you wish are eight or nine out of ten; it's too difficult to expect everything to go perfectly.
  • Analysis: This example uses the phrase in a philosophical, slightly negative context to describe the idealistic nature of the wish itself. `不如意 (bùrúyì)` is the direct opposite.
• Example 8:
  • 希望您手术后恢复得好，从此万事如意。
  • Pinyin: Xīwàng nín shǒushù hòu huīfù dé hǎo, cóngcǐ wàn shì rú yì.
  • English: I hope you recover well after your surgery and that everything goes smoothly for you from now on.
  • Analysis: A heartfelt wish for someone recovering from an illness, expressing a hope that their future will be free of such troubles.
• Example 9:
  • 爸爸，祝您退休生活愉快，万事如意！
  • Pinyin: Bàba, zhù nín tuìxiū shēnghuó yúkuài, wàn shì rú yì!
  • English: Dad, I wish you a happy retirement life, and may everything go as you wish!
  • Analysis: Perfect for celebrating a major life transition like retirement.
• Example 10:
  • 这幅春联的下联是“万事如意”。
  • Pinyin: Zhè fú chūnlián de xiàlián shì “wàn shì rú yì”.
  • English: The second line of this Spring Festival couplet is “wàn shì rú yì”.
  • Analysis: This shows how the phrase is physically integrated into cultural objects. A common first line might be `一帆风顺 (yīfānfēngshùn)`.

• Mistake 1: Using it for trivial matters.
  • Incorrect: 你要去买咖啡吗？祝你万事如意！(Nǐ yào qù mǎi kāfēi ma? Zhù nǐ wàn shì rú yì!) - “You're going to buy coffee? May 10,000 things go as you wish!”
  • Reason: This is overkill. The wish is too grand for such a minor task.
  • Correct: `祝你顺利 (zhù nǐ shùnlì)` - “Hope it goes smoothly,” or more colloquially, just say nothing or “have fun.”
• Mistake 2: Confusing it with a specific wish.
  • While `万事如意` includes success in an exam, it's not the most precise wish. If a friend is about to take the HSK test, it's better to be specific.
  • Okay, but not ideal: `祝你万事如意！`
  • Better: `祝你考试顺利 (zhù nǐ kǎoshì shùnlì)` or `祝你成功 (zhù nǐ chénggōng)`.
  • Rule of thumb: Use `万事如意` for the “big picture” (the new year, a marriage, a new career) and more specific phrases for individual events.

• 心想事成 (xīn xiǎng shì chéng) - “Whatever the heart desires, the matter is accomplished.” A very close synonym and often used in the same breath as `万事如意`.
• 一帆风顺 (yī fān fēng shùn) - “One sail, smooth wind.” Wishes someone a smooth journey, literally or metaphorically. More focused on the process being obstacle-free.
• 身体健康 (shēntǐ jiànkāng) - “Good health.” A fundamental blessing, often said together with `万事如意`, especially to elders.
• 恭喜发财 (gōngxǐ fācái) - “Congratulations and may you get rich.” A blessing focused specifically on wealth and fortune, extremely popular during Chinese New Year.
• 吉祥如意 (jíxiáng rúyì) - “Auspicious and according to your wishes.” Similar to `万事如意` but with a stronger emphasis on luck and auspiciousness.
• 顺利 (shùnlì) - (adj./adv.) “Smoothly; without a hitch.” A much more common and less formal term used to wish someone well on a specific, everyday task.
• 祝福 (zhùfú) - (n./v.) “Blessing; to bless.” This is the general word for any kind of well-wish. `万事如意` is a type of `祝福`.
• 春节 (Chūnjié) - Spring Festival / Chinese New Year. The single most important cultural event where you will hear and use `万事如意`.