생일 축하해요
saeng'il chukha-haeyo[sʰɛŋiɭ t͡ɕʰukʰa̠ɦɛjo]informal, polite
Happy birthday in Korean is expressed in several ways depending on who you are addressing. If unsure, use 생일 축하해요 (saeng'il chukha-haeyo). Wiktionary also lists 생신 축하드립니다 (saengsin chukha-deurimnida) and 생일 축하합니다 (saeng'il chukha-hamnida).
Meaning: good wishes for a birthday (intj)
Ways to say it
| Korean | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 생신 축하드립니다 | saengsin chukha-deurimnida | formal | |
| 생일 축하합니다 | saeng'il chukha-hamnida | formal | |
| 생일 축하해요 | saeng'il chukha-haeyo | [sʰɛŋiɭ t͡ɕʰukʰa̠ɦɛjo] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) [sʰe̞ŋiɭ t͡ɕʰukʰa̠ɦe̞jo] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
informal, polite |
| 생일 축하해 | saeng'il chukha-hae | informal |
All forms are used to convey good wishes for someone's birthday.
Which one should you use?
The standard word for birthday is 생일, but when addressing elders or people of much higher social status, the honorific form 생신 is used instead.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The level of formality varies significantly: 생신 축하드립니다 is highly formal and used for grandparents, teachers or much older superiors. 생일 축하합니다 is a formal and polite version. 생일 축하해요 is a standard polite way to wish someone a happy birthday in everyday social situations. Finally, 생일 축하해 is the informal version.
How does it change in a sentence?
The informal form 생일 축하해 should only be used with close friends or people younger than you.
Did you know?
- It is a common custom in Korea to eat 미역국 'miyeok-guk', or seaweed soup, on your birthday to honor the mother who gave birth to you.
- In traditional Korean culture, the first birthday of a child, called 돌 'dol', is celebrated with a ritual where the baby picks an object to predict their future career.
- In very traditional settings, some Koreans calculate their age based on the lunar calendar, meaning a person might celebrate their birthday on a different date each year.
Examples in context
- 생일 축하해 Muiriel!Happy birthday, Muiriel!This sentence shows how to use the informal 생일 축하해 when addressing someone by name.Tatoeba #5355 by cueyayotl, translation #355041 by human600
- 생일 축하해요, 지수 씨.saeng-il chuk-ha-hae-yo, Ji-su ssi.Happy birthday, Ji-su.
Example conversation
Dohyun celebrates Subin's birthday at a cafe.
- 도현 Do-hyeon수빈 씨, 생일 축하해요!Su-bin ssi, saeng-il chuk-ha-hae-yo!Subin, happy birthday!
- 수빈 Su-bin고마워요, 도현 씨.go-ma-wo-yo, Do-hyeon ssi.Thank you, Dohyun.
- 도현 Do-hyeon선물 여기 있어요.seon-mul yeo-gi it-seo-yo.Here is your gift.
- 수빈 Su-bin정말 고마워요!jeong-mal go-ma-wo-yo!Thank you so much!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “happy birthday” translations and entries 생일 축하해요, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
