Mark Lee's Annual CNY "Idiom Test" For His Kids: Did They Manage To Earn Their Ang Pows This Year?

Most of us are used to getting red packets from our parents right after the usual Chinese New Year greetings. But in Mark Lee's household, it's never as easy as a simple "Gong xi fa cai".

The 57-year-old local comedian's wife, Catherine Ng, 52, recently revealed that their family’s “annual New Year Idiom Test has returned".

"This is how we celebrate the New Year: passing on blessings while letting the kids learn beautiful phrases through laughter, and also teaching them gratitude and sincerity," she said on Instagram. 

In the video, she showed their three children — Calista, 17, Maksonn, 14, and Calynn, 14 — taking turns kneeling in front of Mark to say Chinese New Year greetings.

The actor held up his stack of red packets, each with two-worded Chinese adjectives printed on it, and told his kids to use those words to form a four-character idiom.

Only those who "pass the test" would get an ang pow from daddy.

Calista, who was the first to attempt, had to use the words ji xiang which means "auspicious" or "luck". She paused for a moment before reciting "ji xiang ru yi" (good luck and all the best), earning applause from her mum and siblings.

Funnily, Calista also wished Mark "academic success", which caused everyone to burst into laughter. 

Maksonn, on the other hand, was asked to form an idiom with the words "ping an" which means "safety or peace".

He immediately said "sui sui ping an" (peace all year round) and "ping ping an an" (safe and sound), though Mark interjected to remind him that he has to start his greeting off by addressing his dad first. 

At this point it's safe to say comedy runs in the family and they’ve all got the funny bone. Hilariously, Maksonn even told his father: "Wishing you sleep forever and not age."

Last but not least, Calynn was given the words "ru yi" which means "as one wishes". 

She quickly turned to her siblings and mouthed "help me", and was eventually guided to say "wan shi ru yi" which translates to "may all go well with you", as well as "ji xiang ru yi".

Netizens have since flocked to the comments to commend Mark and Catherine for instilling good values in their children.

"This is a tradition that teaches them to respect their parents, they're such good kids, you've taught them well," gushed one netizen.

Another urged: "This activity has to be passed down to future generations."

We couldn't agree more.