Yee sang 鱼生 (yúshēng), also spelled yu sheng, is the colourful raw-fish-and-vegetable salad that Malaysian and Singaporean families toss high with chopsticks at Chinese New Year while calling out blessings. The toss is called lo hei 捞起 (lāo qǐ in Mandarin), which roughly means “to scoop up” or “to raise up”, and the idea is that the higher you toss, the higher your luck rises in the year ahead. It is also known as the prosperity toss.
I enjoy this dish more than almost any other New Year custom, partly because it is so Malaysian. Few other festive foods ask the whole table to stand, laugh and make a mess together. In this guide I explain the wordplay in the name, what each ingredient is said to mean, the order they go in, the phrases you can call out, who claims to have invented it, how to include everyone at the table, and how to do a simple toss at home. In 2027, the Year of the Fire Goat, the festival opens on Saturday, 6 February, so many offices and families will book their yee sang tables in January.
What Yee Sang Means: The Wordplay in 鱼生
The name carries two layers of meaning.
- 鱼 (yú), fish, sounds like 余 (yú), surplus. This is the same wordplay as 年年有余 (niánnián yǒuyú), “may there be a surplus every year”. A fish at the table is a wish for more than enough.
- 生 (shēng) has several senses: raw, life, and to rise or to be born. So 鱼生 is literally “raw fish”, and it is also read as “a life of abundance” and “rising fortunes”.
In Cantonese, 鱼生 is pronounced similarly to 余升, “surplus and rising”, which is part of why the name feels so lucky to Cantonese speakers. This kind of layered pun is typical of Chinese festive foods, and I cover many more of them in my guide to Chinese New Year food.
What Each Ingredient Is Said to Mean
A yee sang platter is a plate of thin, bright strips: pale and orange vegetables, fish, crisp crackers and sauces. Each element has a commonly cited meaning. These are the ones I hear most often, though different restaurants and families give slightly different versions, so treat them as a guide and not a rulebook.
| Ingredient | Commonly cited meaning |
|---|---|
| Raw fish (salmon or other) | 年年有余, surplus every year |
| Pomelo or pomelo pieces | 大吉大利, great luck and great profit (the fruit also stands for protection) |
| White radish | 风生水起, a business or fortune that rises like the wind and water |
| Carrot | 鸿运当头, great fortune arriving at your door (红 “red” and 鸿 “great” sound alike) |
| Green radish | Youthfulness and lasting vigour in some versions |
| Pepper | 招财进宝, attracting wealth and treasure |
| Oil | 财源广进, wealth flowing in from all directions |
| Plum sauce | 甜甜蜜蜜, a sweet and happy life |
| Crackers (fried crisps) | 满屋黄金, a house full of gold |
| Peanuts, crushed | 金银满屋, gold and silver filling the home (also used with crackers) |
| Sesame seeds | 生意兴隆, thriving business |
A few honest notes. The exact words and the ingredient that carries them shift from place to place. Some versions give the carrot to “luck” and the crackers to “gold”, some give the peanuts to “long life”. What matters is the habit of attaching a blessing to each item, not any single list. I am quite relaxed about the variation. If a restaurant gives different meanings, enjoy theirs.
The Toss Step by Step: Lo Hei 捞起
The sequence below is the one most commonly followed, though restaurants vary. Usually a host or server announces each step, and everyone joins in with the phrases.
- Gather and stand. Everyone stands around the table with chopsticks in hand. The plate stays in the centre so everyone can reach it.
- Add the fish first. The raw fish goes on with “年年有余”. Some families add oil and pepper here as well.
- Add the pomelo. With “大吉大利”, the pomelo or citrus element is added.
- Pour the oil and add the pepper. Often with “财源广进” and “招财进宝”.
- Add the carrot and radishes. With “鸿运当头” and “风生水起”.
- Pour the plum sauce. With “甜甜蜜蜜”.
- Add the crackers, peanuts and sesame. With “满屋黄金” and “生意兴隆”.
- Toss. Everyone lifts the salad with chopsticks, mixes it together and tosses it as high as they like while calling out blessings. The higher the toss, the higher the luck.
- Eat. Take a portion and enjoy it straight away while it is fresh and crisp.
Some tables toss for as long as a minute, with everyone shouting “lo hei!” or “huat ah!” (a Hokkien cheer, roughly “prosper!”). Do not worry about the mess. A little spillage is considered lucky by many families, and it is part of the fun.
Phrases to Call Out While You Toss
You do not need to memorise a script. If you remember six to eight phrases, you will be well equipped. These are the ones I find most useful.
| Phrase | Pinyin | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 恭喜发财 | gōngxǐ fācái | Congratulations, may you prosper |
| 万事如意 | wànshì rúyì | May everything go as you wish |
| 年年有余 | niánnián yǒuyú | A surplus every year |
| 财源广进 | cáiyuán guǎngjìn | Wealth flowing in from all directions |
| 步步高升 | bùbù gāoshēng | Rising step by step |
| 一帆风顺 | yīfān fēngshùn | Smooth sailing |
| 身体健康 | shēntǐ jiànkāng | Good health |
| 心想事成 | xīn xiǎng shì chéng | May your wishes come true |
If you are unsure how to pronounce the first one, my guide to the meaning of Gong Xi Fa Cai walks through it. In mixed company, a loud “huat ah!” with a smile works just as well as a perfect phrase.
Where Did the Prosperity Toss Come From? A Fair Answer
Honestly, the origin is disputed, and I would be careful of anyone who gives a confident single story.
- Raw fish dishes have a long history in southern China, including Cantonese and Teochew communities, and the custom of eating raw fish slices on the seventh day of the New Year, 人日 (Rén Rì), is old. That is the “ancestor” of the dish.
- The modern, colourful toss with a plate of shredded vegetables, crackers and a rousing shout is generally said to have developed in Southeast Asia in the 20th century.
- Both Malaysia and Singapore claim the modern version. In Malaysia, the town of Seremban in Negeri Sembilan is often named as the place where the lo hei tradition began. In Singapore, restaurant chefs in the 1960s are widely credited with popularising the version served at restaurants today. Each side tells its story with pride.
I do not take sides. The more important point, to my mind, is that both countries turned a regional dish into a shared festival ritual that now crosses community lines.
When Is Yee Sang Eaten?
There is no single required day. In practice, in Malaysia:
- From the reunion dinner onwards. Some families have it as part of the Eve’s meal on Friday, 5 February 2027, though many prefer to keep the Eve for traditional dishes.
- During the first days and the first week. Many families and restaurants serve it throughout the first fortnight.
- On the seventh day, 人日, which in 2027 is Friday, 12 February, and which has an old link to raw fish dishes.
- Until about Chap Goh Meh, on Saturday, 20 February 2027. My guide to Chap Goh Meh covers the close of the festival.
- At company dinners and community gatherings, which are often held in the weeks before and after the first days, since offices usually choose a convenient evening.
For the full day-by-day schedule, see my 15 days of Chinese New Year guide.
Halal, Vegetarian and Other Options
Not everyone at the table eats raw fish, and Malaysia’s shared celebrations often include friends of every background. A few practical notes.
- Salmon is the most common fish, but other fish and even smoked or cooked versions are used. Some restaurants offer cooked or smoked options instead of raw.
- Vegetarian versions replace the fish with mushroom, tofu, jellyfish-style alternatives or simply more vegetables. These are widely available.
- Halal and non-halal. Whether a yee sang is halal depends on the fish, the sauce and the venue. I cannot tell you which restaurant is certified, so please check with the host or restaurant directly, and do not assume.
- Raw fish carries the usual food-safety cautions. If you are pregnant, elderly, or serving young children, a cooked or vegetarian version is the sensible choice.
- Allergies. Peanuts, sesame and fish are all common allergens, so tell your host if they matter to you.
The spirit of the toss is that everyone joins in. It is perfectly good manners to ask what is in the dish and to choose a version that suits you.
How to Do a Yee Sang Toss at Home
You do not need a restaurant. A simple home version works well, and it is a lovely activity with children and grandparents.
- Buy a ready-made pack or prepare the ingredients. Supermarkets in Malaysia commonly sell yee sang kits at this time of year. If you prefer your own, shred the carrot and radishes finely and keep them cold.
- Choose your fish carefully. If you use raw fish, buy fresh fish from a reputable seller and keep it chilled until the moment of serving. If in doubt, choose smoked salmon or a vegetarian version.
- Prepare the sauces and crackers separately and keep the crackers dry until the end so they stay crisp.
- Use a large, flat platter and set it in the middle of the table, with a tablecloth or newspaper underneath. Tossing is messy.
- Let a family member lead. The eldest or the youngest can read out the phrases. Everyone else adds their own.
- Toss with long chopsticks if you have them, and eat straight away.
This is not a recipe page, and I will not pretend to be a chef. I am a feng shui practitioner who loves the custom and wants it to feel easy to do. For the bigger picture of the reunion meal, see my reunion dinner guide, and for the wordplay behind the pomelo in the toss, my pomelo guide.
Common Questions
What is the meaning of yee sang? Yee sang 鱼生 is a prosperity toss. 鱼 sounds like 余, surplus, and 生 means life or rising, so the dish stands for abundance and rising fortunes. Lo hei 捞起 means to scoop up or raise up luck.
Is yee sang the same as yu sheng? Yes. They are two spellings of the same dish, 鱼生. Yee sang is the Cantonese-style spelling common in Malaysia, and yu sheng is the Mandarin-style spelling.
Which direction should we toss? There is no strict rule. Tossing upward and toward the centre is the usual custom. A mess is part of the fun.
Who should add the ingredients? Traditionally the host, an elder or a restaurant server leads, and the family joins in. At home, anyone can lead.
Can we eat yee sang if we are vegetarian or Muslim? Yes, with a suitable version. Vegetarian versions are common, and for halal considerations you should ask the host or restaurant. I cannot confirm which places are certified.
Key Takeaways
- Yee sang 鱼生 is a prosperity toss. 鱼 sounds like 余 (surplus), and lo hei 捞起 means to raise up luck.
- Each ingredient carries a blessing, but the exact list varies between families and restaurants.
- The order is flexible. Fish first, then citrus, oil, pepper, vegetables, sauce and crackers, then toss high together.
- Learn six to eight phrases, such as 恭喜发财, 万事如意 and 年年有余. A loud “huat ah!” works too.
- The modern version’s origin is disputed. Malaysia (with Seremban claims) and Singapore each tell their own story.
- Check the ingredients with your host. Vegetarian, cooked or halal-appropriate versions exist, and raw fish needs sensible food-safety care.
If you would like the rest of your festive preparations to be as well thought through as your table, you can book a house Feng Shui consultation and we will plan your home for the Goat year together.
