need help with old Chinese rice cup. approx date / translation?

Have this old rice bowl which I'm researching. I think its Chinese and it does look like it got some age to it. I shown this ones to a Chinese friend of mine and he told me that it was a birthday cup. According to him these were used by the person on his birthday. He also told me that one of the symbols means good luck or such if I can remember correctly. He could not help me dating it. Can I assume this story is correct? And can somebody maybe help me dating it approx or read the inscriptions. The inscriptions look like traditional Chinese to me. Also not sure if its porcelain or pottery.

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