할머니 생신 축하드려요
halmeoni saengsin chukhadeuryeoyo
The English phrase "happy birthday grandma" is expressed in Korean as 할머니 생신 축하드려요 (halmeoni saengsin chukhadeuryeoyo).
This phrase is a polite greeting used to wish a grandmother a happy birthday.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of 할머니 (grandmother), 생신 (the honorific form of birthday) and 축하드려요 (the honorific form of congratulate).
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase ends in the polite –요 (-yo) ending.
How do you pronounce it?
halmeoni saengsin chukhadeuryeoyo
Did you know?
- In Korea, birthdays for elders are often celebrated with 'miyeok-guk', a seaweed soup. It is traditional to eat this soup on one's birthday to honor one's mother.
- The word for 'grandmother', 할머니, actually contains the ancient Korean root for 'big' or 'great'. It literally traces back to the idea of a 'great mother'.
- When speaking to a grandmother, Koreans often avoid using the word 'you' entirely. Instead, they repeat the title 할머니 to address her directly.
Examples in context
- 할머니 생신 축하드려요, 건강하세요.halmeoni saengsin chukhadryeoyo, geonganghaseyo.Happy birthday, grandma, please stay healthy.
Example conversation
Subin and Hyunwoo are giving a gift to their grandmother.
- 수빈 Su-bin할머니 생신 축하드려요!halmeoni saengsin chukhadryeoyo!Happy birthday, grandma!
- 현우 Hyeon-woo고맙다, 수빈아.gomapda, subin-a.Thank you, Subin.
- 수빈 Su-bin이건 저희가 준비한 선물이에요.igeon jeohuiga junbihan seonmurieyo.This is a gift we prepared.
- 현우 Hyeon-woo정말 고맙구나, 현우야.jeongmal gomapguna, hyeonu-ya.Thank you so much, Hyunwoo.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 생신, 할머니, CC BY-SA 4.0.
