壓歲

From 壓祟／压祟 (yāsuì, “to suppress disaster brought by evil spirits”).

壓歲

1. to give children money or auspicious items during the Chinese New Year, originally intended to help dispel evil spirits (as children are most likely to be affected by such spirits)

   • 果堂以靑銅三百文惠余壓歲 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     果堂以青铜三百文惠余压岁 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: Qing dynasty, 華嵒 (Hua Yan), 庚申歲客維楊果堂家除夕漫成五言二律, in 《新羅山人離垢集》

     Guǒtáng yǐ qíngtóng sān bǎi wén huì yú yāsuì

     Guotang gifted me with three hundred bronze cash for Chinese New Year

   • 但他是來向其中一個乾女兒討回被「借」去的錢，以免「衰過年」？還是要包紅包給另一個乾女兒壓歲？或者兩者都有？ [MSC, trad.]
     但他是来向其中一个干女儿讨回被「借」去的钱，以免「衰过年」？还是要包红包给另一个干女儿压岁？或者两者都有？ [MSC, simp.]

     From: 2013, 蔡坤龍, 《這些事，里長管定了》, page 49

     Dàn tā shì lái xiàng qízhōng yī ge gānnǚ'ér tǎohuí bèi “jiè” qù de qián, yǐmiǎn “shuāi guònián”? Háishì yào bāo hóngbāo gěi lìng yī ge gānnǚ'ér yāsuì? Huòzhě liǎngzhě dōu yǒu?

     But did he come to get back from one of his goddaughter the money that he "lent" so that he would not "get bad luck in the New Year"? Or did he want to give a red envelope to his other goddaughter as a Chinese New Year's gift? Or is it both?

• 給壓歲錢/给压岁钱 (gěi yāsuìqián)
• (Hokkien) 硩年

• 壓腰／压腰 (yāyāo)