생신 축하드립니다
saengsin chukadeurimnida
The English phrase "happy birthday to an elder" is translated into Korean as 생신 축하드립니다 (saengsin chukadeurimnida).
생신 축하드립니다 is the appropriate phrase for grandparents, parents, teachers or bosses. To add to your well-wishes, you might also say 건강하시고 행복하세요 (Stay healthy and be happy) or 장수하시길 바랍니다 (Wishing you a long life).
Which one should you use?
생신 축하드립니다 is the most formal and respectful version used for elders or people of higher status. 생일 축하해요 is a polite version that uses the standard word for birthday, making it less formal than the honorific version. Finally, 생일 축하해 is the informal version used with friends or people younger than you.
How do you pronounce it?
saengsin chukadeurimnida
Did you know?
- When celebrating an elder's birthday, it is common to serve 미역국 (miyeok-guk), a seaweed soup. This is eaten to honor the mother, as it is the traditional first meal a woman eats after giving birth.
- While most birthdays are celebrated on the day of birth, the 60th birthday is historically the most significant milestone in Korea. This anniversary, called 환갑 (hwangap), celebrates the completion of one full cycle of the lunar zodiac.
- If you use the standard 생일 instead of 생신 for a grandparent, it is not just a grammatical mistake, but can be perceived as a social slight or a lack of upbringing.
Examples in context
- 할아버지, 생신 축하드립니다.hal-abeoji, saengsin chukha-deulimnida.Grandfather, happy birthday.
- 할머니, 생신 축하드립니다! 건강하세요.halmeoni, saengsin chukha-deulimnida! geon-gang-haseyo.Grandmother, happy birthday! Please stay healthy.
- 선생님, 생신 축하드립니다.seonsaengnim, saengsin chukha-deulimnida.Teacher, happy birthday.
Example conversation
Dohyun and Jieun are visiting their grandmother together.
- 도현 Do-hyeon할머니, 생신 축하드립니다!hal-meo-ni, saeng-sin chuk-ha-deu-rim-ni-da!Grandmother, happy birthday!
- 지은 Ji-eun고맙다, 도현아.go-map-da, do-hyeon-a.Thank you, Dohyun.
- 도현 Do-hyeon지은이도 같이 인사드려요.ji-eun-i-do ga-chi in-sa-deu-ryeo.Jieun, please give your greetings too.
