생일 축하해
saeng-il chuk-ha-hae
To say happy birthday with name in Korean, put the person's name before 생일 축하해 (saeng-il chuk-ha-hae), as in [Name]야, 생일 축하해.
생일 축하해 is used with friends or people younger than you. To add a name in this casual style, place the name followed by 야 if the name ends in a vowel or 아 if it ends in a consonant. In polite speech, use the name followed by the title 씨, as in [Name] 씨, 생일 축하해요.
Which one should you use?
생일 축하합니다! is a standard polite happy birthday. 생신 축하드립니다. means congratulations on your birthday and is formal, for example 사장님, 생신 축하드립니다 to your boss.
How do you pronounce it?
It is written in Latin letters as saeng-il chuk-ha-hae.
When do people say it?
A warm message to a close friend might read 친한 친구인 세진아, 생일 축하해! 항상 행복하고 건강하자, meaning dear close friend Sejin, happy birthday, let's always be happy and healthy.
Did you know?
- In Korea, it is common to celebrate 생일 by eating 미역국, a seaweed soup. This tradition honors the mother, as seaweed is rich in iodine and often eaten by women after childbirth.
- In Korean, the word for 'birthday', 생일, is part of a hierarchy of words. While you use 생일 for friends, you must switch to the honorific 생신 when wishing a happy birthday to a grandparent or someone much older to show respect.
- The formal version 축하드립니다 transforms the act of wishing a happy birthday into a ritual of 'offering' congratulations to a high-ranking person.
Examples in context
- 회장님, 생신 축하드립니다. 건강과 행운이 항상 함께하시길 바랍니다.Dear Chairman, congratulations on your birthday. I hope you always have good health and fortune.
- 존경하는 어머님, 생신 축하드립니다. 항상 건강하시길 바랍니다.Respected mother, congratulations on your birthday. I hope you always stay healthy.
- 지훈아, 생일 축하해. 선물이야.Jihoon-ah, saeng-il chukha-hae. seon-mul-iya.Jihoon, happy birthday. This is a gift.
- 수진아, 생일 축하해! 오늘 뭐 해?Sujin-ah, saeng-il chukha-hae! o-neul mwo hae?Sujin, happy birthday! What are you doing today?
Example conversation
Jihoon meets Minji at a cafe to celebrate her birthday.
- 지훈 Ji-hun민지야, 생일 축하해!Minji-ya, saeng-il chukha-hae!Minji, happy birthday!
- 민지 Min-ji고마워, 지훈아!Go-ma-wo, Jihoon-ah!Thank you, Jihoon!
- 지훈 Ji-hun선물 준비했어.Seon-mul jun-bi-hae-sseo.I prepared a gift.
- 민지 Min-ji정말? 감동이야!Jeong-mal? gam-dong-iya!Really? I'm so touched!
