LO HEI INGREDIENTS, ORDER AND MEANINGS

What goes into yusheng, the order it is added and what to say at each step

Yusheng guide for Chinese New Year 2027

Lo hei (捞起) is the Singapore and Malaysia tradition of tossing yusheng (鱼生), a colourful raw fish salad, as high as possible while calling out wishes for the new year. Each ingredient is added in a set order, and the person adding it says an auspicious phrase linked to its meaning.

This guide lists the lo hei ingredients in order, with the Chinese saying and plain-English meaning for each. It is written for anyone who has to lead the toss at a team lunch, client dinner or company celebration. For planning a full workplace toss, see our guide to corporate lo hei events in Singapore.

The Lo Hei Ingredients in Order

Restaurants and caterers vary the recipe, but most Singapore yusheng follows this sequence. The leader adds each item and says the phrase; everyone else repeats it or simply cheers.

Greeting: before anything is added, everyone wishes each other 恭喜发财 (gōng xǐ fā cái, wishing you prosperity) and 万事如意 (wàn shì rú yì, may all go as you wish).
Raw fish (鱼): usually salmon. Say 年年有余 (nián nián yǒu yú), abundance year after year. 鱼 sounds like 余, surplus.
Pomelo or lime (柚子): squeezed or scattered over the fish. Say 大吉大利 (dà jí dà lì), great luck and great prosperity.
Pepper and five-spice powder (胡椒粉, 五香粉): sprinkled over. Say 招财进宝 (zhāo cái jìn bǎo), attract wealth and treasure.
Oil (油): drizzled in a circle to coat everything. Say 一本万利 (yī běn wàn lì), ten thousand times profit on your capital, and 财源广进 (cái yuán guǎng jìn), wealth flowing in from all directions.
Carrot (红萝卜): say 鸿运当头 (hóng yùn dāng tóu), good luck is approaching. 红 (red) sounds like 鸿, great.
Green radish (青萝卜): say 青春常驻 (qīng chūn cháng zhù), stay forever young.
White radish (白萝卜): say 风生水起 (fēng shēng shuǐ qǐ), progress at a fast pace, and 步步高升 (bù bù gāo shēng), reach higher with every step.
Crushed peanuts (花生): say 金银满屋 (jīn yín mǎn wū), a household filled with gold and silver.
Sesame seeds (芝麻): say 生意兴隆 (shēng yì xīng lóng), a prosperous business.
Golden crackers (薄脆): shaped like little pillows or gold. Say 遍地黄金 (biàn dì huáng jīn), the floor full of gold.
Plum sauce (酸梅酱): poured over last. Say 甜甜蜜蜜 (tián tián mì mì), may life be sweet.
The toss: everyone lifts the ingredients with chopsticks, as high as possible, calling 捞起, 捞起 and 风生水起 together.

Some versions add jellyfish, ginger, lime leaf or fried yam strips. If an ingredient has no traditional phrase, a simple 新年快乐 (happy new year) works.

Why the Order Matters

The sequence builds from the main wish (abundance, through the fish) towards wealth, health and success, and ends on sweetness before everyone tosses together. For many guests, saying the right phrase at the right moment is the fun part, so a confident leader who knows the order keeps the table engaged. Our page of lo hei sayings and yu sheng phrases has more phrases you can use between steps.

How to Lead a Lo Hei at Work

Pick one leader per table. Choose someone comfortable speaking Mandarin, or print the phrases in pinyin and English so anyone can lead.
Brief non-Chinese colleagues. A one-line explanation of what lo hei means makes everyone feel included.
Keep it to five minutes. Add the ingredients briskly, then toss. Long speeches before the toss lose the room.
Use long chopsticks and a large platter. Ask the caterer to plate for the number of people per table.
Protect the area. Expect spills. Use tablecloths and keep laptops and documents away in an office.
Take the photo during the toss, not after. Tell the photographer when the leader is about to call 捞起.

Dietary and Inclusive Options

Many Singapore workplaces need a version without raw fish or pork-based ingredients. Fruit-based, vegetarian and halal-certified yusheng are widely available during the season. See our guide to halal and vegetarian lo hei for corporate events.

When Do People Lo Hei?

Lo hei is traditionally done on 人日 (rén rì), the seventh day of Chinese New Year, but in Singapore it is enjoyed at any meal during the 15-day season. In 2027, Chinese New Year falls on Saturday 6 February, so the seventh day is Friday 12 February and the season ends with Chap Goh Mei on Saturday 20 February. Most companies hold their lo hei in the first two working weeks after the holiday. For dates and lead times, see the CNY 2027 corporate planning guide, or let us organise your corporate Chinese New Year event.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the ingredients in lo hei?

Typical Singapore yusheng includes raw fish, pomelo or lime, pepper and five-spice powder, oil, carrot, green radish, white radish, crushed peanuts, sesame seeds, golden crackers and plum sauce.

What is the correct order to add lo hei ingredients?

After the greeting, add fish, pomelo, pepper and five-spice, oil, carrot, green radish, white radish, peanuts, sesame, crackers and finally plum sauce, then toss together.

What do you say when tossing yusheng?

Everyone calls 捞起 (lo hei) and 风生水起 while lifting the ingredients high. Each ingredient also has its own phrase, such as 年年有余 for the fish.

Which day is lo hei traditionally eaten?

Traditionally on 人日, the seventh day of Chinese New Year (Friday 12 February 2027), though in Singapore it is enjoyed throughout the 15-day season.

Can lo hei be made without raw fish?

Yes. Fruit, vegetarian, smoked salmon and halal-certified versions are common and keep the same order and phrases.