Lo Hei (捞起) is a Chinese New Year tradition popular in Singapore, Malaysia, and other Southeast Asian countries. It involves tossing a raw fish salad called Yusheng (鱼生) while saying auspicious phrases to usher in prosperity and good fortune for the new year.

What ingredients are in Lo Hei Yusheng?

Traditional Lo Hei Yusheng includes raw fish (usually salmon), shredded carrots and radish, pomelo, crushed peanuts, sesame seeds, golden pillow crackers, sweet plum sauce, oil, and pepper or cinnamon powder. Each ingredient has a symbolic meaning related to prosperity and good fortune.

When do you do Lo Hei?

Lo Hei is traditionally done during Chinese New Year (Lunar New Year), typically on the 7th day (Ren Ri, or Everyone's Birthday) or during reunion dinners. It is commonly enjoyed from the start of Chinese New Year until the 15th day (Chap Goh Mei).

How to Lo Hei — Interactive Yusheng Tossing Guide

Learn how to Lo Hei (捞鱼生) step by step with this interactive guide. Lo Hei is a beloved Chinese New Year and Lunar New Year tradition where family and friends toss Yusheng (a prosperity raw fish salad) while reciting auspicious phrases for good fortune.

What is Lo Hei?

Lo Hei (捞起), also known as the Prosperity Toss, is a festive tradition popular in Singapore, Malaysia, and Southeast Asia during Chinese New Year. Participants gather around a plate of Yusheng (鱼生) — a colourful raw fish salad — and toss the ingredients as high as possible using chopsticks while shouting auspicious wishes.

Step-by-Step Lo Hei Guide

Raw Fish (鱼): Place the fish. Say 年年有余 — Abundance through the year!
Pomelo/Lime: Squeeze lime. Say 大吉大利 — Good luck and great prosperity!
Pepper & Cinnamon: Sprinkle pepper. Say 招财进宝 — Attract wealth and treasures!
Oil: Drizzle oil in circles. Say 一本万利 — 10,000 times profit!
Carrots & Radish: Spread the shreds. Say 鸿运当头 — Good luck is coming!
Peanuts: Sprinkle peanut crumbs. Say 金银满屋 — House filled with gold and silver!
Sesame Seeds: Scatter seeds. Say 生意兴隆 — May your business flourish!
Golden Crackers: Crush and sprinkle. Say 满地黄金 — Floor covered with gold!
Plum Sauce: Drizzle sauce. Say 甜甜蜜蜜 — May life always be sweet!
Toss! (捞起!): Toss everything high! Shout 发啊! 恭喜发财! — Huat ah! Gong Xi Fa Cai!

Lo Hei Ingredients and Meanings

Every ingredient in Yusheng has a symbolic meaning: raw fish symbolises abundance (余), carrots represent blessings of good luck (鸿运当头), green radish represents eternal youth, peanuts symbolise a household filled with gold and silver, sesame seeds represent flourishing business, and crackers represent a floor paved with gold.

Frequently Asked Questions

What do you say during Lo Hei?

Each ingredient is paired with specific auspicious sayings in Mandarin or dialect. The most common shout is "Huat ah!" (发啊!) meaning "Prosper!" and "Gong Xi Fa Cai" (恭喜发财) meaning "Wishing you prosperity."

When is Lo Hei done?

Lo Hei is done during Chinese New Year, typically on Ren Ri (the 7th day, Everyone's Birthday) or during reunion dinners, from the 1st to the 15th day of the Lunar New Year.