생신 축하드려요
saengsin chukhadeuryeoyo
In Korean, the phrase for happy birthday to an older person is 생신 축하드려요 (saengsin chukhadeuryeoyo).
This phrase is used to wish a person of higher status or older age a happy birthday. It is an appropriate way to show respect to people such as grandparents, teachers or bosses.
Which one should you use?
You should use 생신 축하드려요 for elders or people of higher status. For friends or people younger than you, use 생일 축하해 instead.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase ends in the –요 (-yo) ending, which makes it a polite, standard form for addressing an older person.
How do you pronounce it?
saengsin chukhadeuryeoyo
When do people say it?
When wishing someone a long life on their birthday, you can also say 장수하십시오.
Did you know?
- While 생신 is the honorific word for 'birthday', some Koreans traditionally celebrated a person's birthday as the day they were conceived, meaning the baby was born one year old.
- In traditional Korean culture, the most significant birthday is the first one, called 돌 (dol). It is celebrated with a ritual where the baby picks an object to predict their future career.
- When celebrating an elder's 생신, it is traditional to serve 미역국 (miyeok-guk), a seaweed soup that commemorates the mother's first meal after childbirth.
Examples in context
- 생일 축하드립니다. 건강하시고 행복하세요.Happy birthday. Stay healthy and be happy.
- 장수하십시오. 오래 오래 행복하게 살아주세요.Wishing you a long life. May you live happily for a long time.
- 할머니, 생신 축하드려요.hal-meo-ni, saeng-sin chuk-ha-deu-ryeo-yo.Grandmother, happy birthday.
- 선생님, 생신 축하드려요!seon-saeng-nim, saeng-sin chuk-ha-deu-ryeo-yo!Teacher, happy birthday!
- 아버님, 생신 축하드려요.a-beo-nim, saeng-sin chuk-ha-deu-ryeo-yo.Father, happy birthday.
Example conversation
Dohyun and Minji are visiting their grandmother together.
- 도현 Do-hyeon할머니, 생신 축하드려요!hal-meoni, saeng-sin chuk-ha-deu-ryeo-yo!Grandmother, happy birthday!
- 민지 Min-ji어머, 도현아 고맙다.eo-meo, do-hyeon-a go-map-da.Oh, thank you, Dohyun.
- 도현 Do-hyeon민지도 같이 축하드려요.min-ji-do gat-i chuk-ha-deu-ryeo-yo.Minji is also wishing you a happy birthday.
- 민지 Min-ji둘 다 와줘서 정말 고맙구나.dul da wa-jwo-seo jeong-mal go-map-gu-na.Thank you both so much for coming.
