生日快樂
chheⁿ-ji̍t khoài-lo̍k
Happy birthday in Hokkien is 生日快樂 (chheⁿ-ji̍t khoài-lo̍k).
The phrase is used to express good wishes to someone celebrating their birthday.
Meaning: good wishes for a birthday (intj)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of 生日 (birthday) and 快樂 (happy/joyful).
How do you pronounce it?
chheⁿ-ji̍t khoài-lo̍k
Did you know?
- Instead of a birthday cake, a traditional Hokkien celebration features 'long-life noodles' 長壽麵, which must remain uncut to symbolize a long life.
- While the phrase is understood, many Hokkien speakers may prefer the more traditional wish 壽比南山 (shòu bǐ nán shān) for elders, which literally translates to 'may your longevity be as great as the South Mountain'.
- The characters used in 生日快樂 are actually shared with Mandarin Chinese, but the pronunciation changes entirely in Hokkien to 'chheⁿ-ji̍t khoài-lo̍k'.
Examples in context
- 生日快樂！sing-jit khuài-lāk!Happy birthday!
- 祝你生日快樂。Tsiok lí sing-jit khuài-lāk.I wish you a happy birthday.
- 大家祝他生日快樂。Tāi-ke tsiok i sing-jit khuài-lāk.Everyone wishes him a happy birthday.
Example conversation
Xiaowen gives a gift to Jianhong on his birthday.
- 曉雯 Hiau-bun建宏，生日快樂！Kiàn-hông, seng-it khòai-lòk!Jianhong, happy birthday!
- 建宏 Kian-hong謝謝妳，曉雯。tsià-sià lí, Hiáu-bûn.Thank you, Xiaowen.
- 曉雯 Hiau-bun這是送給你的禮物。tse-siàn sòng hō lí ê lí-vu.This is a gift for you.
- 建宏 Kian-hong妳太客氣了，謝謝。lí thài khè-kì liáu, tsià-sià.You are too kind, thank you.
