hongbao/ˈhɒŋbaʊ/EtymologyBorrowed from Pinyin romanization of Mandarin 紅包 /红包 (hóngbāo), 红包 (hóngbāo, “red envelope, red packet, hongbao”): 紅 /红, 红 (hóng, “red”) + 包 (bāo, “bag, sack; parcel, package”). Doublet of angpao and ang pow.nounSynonym of red envelope.“In the old days gifts of money were given to children by the older generation and were placed in red envelopes called hong bao. This practice has been discouraged by the Communists because it perpetuates "feudal-capitalist consciousness," the worship of wealth and money.”