祝我生日快乐
zhù wǒ shēngrì kuàilè
The English phrase "happy birthday to me" is translated into Chinese as 祝我生日快乐 (zhù wǒ shēngrì kuàilè).
This phrase is used by a person to wish themselves a happy birthday.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of 祝 (wish) + 我 (me) + 生日 (birthday) + 快乐 (happy).
Which one should you use?
While 祝我生日快乐 is a way to wish yourself a happy birthday, you can also use 祝自己生日快乐 by replacing 我 (me) with 自己 (oneself). This variation, meaning "wish oneself a happy birthday," is often used in written social media posts or reflections.
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb 祝 (zhù) is used here to express a formal or semi-formal wish directed toward a person.
How do you pronounce it?
zhù wǒ shēngrì kuàilè
Did you know?
- In China, birthdays are often celebrated by eating 长寿面 or 'long-life noodles'. These are extra-long noodles that should not be cut or broken during eating to avoid shortening one's life.
- The character 祝 is a pictograph that originally represented a shaman praying to the gods, turning a simple birthday wish into an ancient act of spiritual invocation.
- In traditional Chinese culture, a person's 'nominal age' is often one year older than their actual age because the time spent in the womb is counted as the first year of life.
Examples in context
- 宝贝，祝我生日快乐！Baby, wish me a happy birthday!
- 祝我生日快乐！Zhù wǒ shēngrì kuàilè!Happy birthday to me!
- 今天对自己说一句，祝我生日快乐。Jīntiān duì zìjǐ shuō yí jù, zhù wǒ shēngrì kuàilè.Today I say to myself, happy birthday to me.
- 我要在朋友圈写：祝我生日快乐。Wǒ yào zài péngyǒuquān xiě: zhù wǒ shēngrì kuàilè.I want to write on my Moments: happy birthday to me.
Example conversation
A man is talking to a woman about his birthday plans.
- 志强 Zhiqiang今天我打算对自己说：祝我生日快乐。Jīntiān wǒ dǎsuàn duì zìjǐ shuō: zhù wǒ shēngrì kuàilè.Today I plan to say to myself: happy birthday to me.
- 雨婷 Yuting志强，你真幽默。Zhìqiáng, nǐ zhēn yōumò.Zhiqiang, you are so humorous.
- 志强 Zhiqiang哈哈，其实我也想犒劳一下自己。Hāhā, qíshí wǒ yě xiǎng kàoláo yíxià zìjǐ.Haha, actually I also want to treat myself.
- 雨婷 Yuting那就去吃顿大餐吧。Nà jiù qù chī dùn dàcān ba.Then go have a big meal.
