새해 복 많이 받으세요
saehae bok mani badeuseyo[sʰɛɦɛ po̞ŋma̠ni pa̠dɯsʰe̞jo]
“Happy Chinese New Year” in Korean is translated as 새해 복 많이 받으세요 (saehae bok mani badeuseyo).
This phrase is a greeting used to wish someone good luck and happiness during the Lunar New Year.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase 새해 복 많이 받아 is the informal version of the greeting which translates to "receive much luck in the new year".
How do you pronounce it?
saehae bok mani badeuseyo
Did you know?
- The word 복 in this greeting is a homonym in Korean and can also refer to a pufferfish or the act of wearing clothes.
- During the Lunar New Year, the greeting 새해 복 많이 받으세요 is traditionally paired with sebae, a deep bow where the junior person bows low to their elders.
- While English speakers say 'Happy New Year', Koreans literally say 'Please receive much luck' when using 새해 복 많이 받으세요. This shifts the focus from the speaker's wish to the listener's reception of fortune.
Examples in context
- 새해 복 많이 받으세요May you receive many blessings in the New Year.
- 새해 복 많이 받으십시오Please receive many blessings in the New Year.
- 새해 복 많이 받아Receive many blessings in the New Year.
- 복 많이 받아라Receive many blessings.
- 새해 복 많이 받으세요.saehae bok mani badeuseyo.Happy New Year.
- 모두 새해 복 많이 받으세요!modu saehae bok mani badeuseyo!Happy New Year, everyone!
- 할머니, 새해 복 많이 받으세요.halmeoni, saehae bok mani badeuseyo.Grandmother, Happy New Year.
Example conversation
Ji-eun and Ji-hun meet at a cafe during the Lunar New Year holiday.
- 지은 Ji-eun지훈 씨, 새해 복 많이 받으세요!Ji-hun ssi, saehae bok mani badeuseyo!Ji-hun, Happy New Year!
- 지훈 Ji-hun지은 씨도 새해 복 많이 받으세요.Ji-eun ssi-do saehae bok mani badeuseyo.Happy New Year to you too, Ji-eun.
- 지은 Ji-eun올해는 좋은 일만 가득하세요.olhaeneun joeun ilman gadeuk-haseyo.I hope only good things happen this year.
- 지훈 Ji-hun감사합니다. 지은 씨도요.gamsahamnida. Ji-eun ssi-do-yo.Thank you. You too, Ji-eun.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 새해 복 많이 받으세요, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
