새해 복 많이 받으세요
saehae bok mani badeuseyo[sʰɛɦɛ po̞ŋma̠ni pa̠dɯsʰe̞jo]
To say happy lunar year in Korean, use 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. It is a way of saying, "May you receive lots of New Year's blessings."
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase 새해 (saehae) means "new year". The full expression 새해 복 많이 받으세요 literally translates to "Please receive much new year's luck/blessing".
Which one should you use?
You might also use 행운 가득한 새해 보내세요, which means "May you have a New Year filled with good luck" or 모든 소망이 이루어지시길, which expresses a wish for the "fulfillment of all aspirations".
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
새해 복 많이 받으세요 is a formal way to wish someone a Happy Lunar Year. You can use the informal version 새해 복 많이 받아 only with close friends or people younger than you.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase 새해 복 많이 받으세요 uses the polite honorific ending -으세요, which makes it appropriate for most social situations.
How do you pronounce it?
saehae bok mani badeuseyo
Did you know?
- In Korea, the custom of sebae involves a deep bow to elders while saying 새해 복 많이 받으세요. In return, the elders often give sebaetdon, which are gifts of money in colorful envelopes.
- While the word 복 means 'luck' or 'blessing' in this greeting, it is also a homonym for 'pufferfish' in Korean.
- The word 해 in 새해 means 'year', but it is also the Korean word for 'sun', linking the new year to the solar cycle.
Examples in context
- 새해 복 많이 받으세요.saehae bok mani badeuseyo.Happy Lunar New Year.
- 모두 새해 복 많이 받으세요.modu saehae bok mani badeuseyo.I wish everyone a happy New Year.
- 부모님께 새해 복 많이 받으세요라고 인사드렸어요.bumonimkke saehae bok mani badeuseyorageo insadeuryeosseoyo.I told my parents, 'Happy New Year.'
Example conversation
Subin and Dohyun meet at a cafe during the New Year holiday.
- 수빈 Su-bin도현 씨, 새해 복 많이 받으세요!Dohyun ssi, saehae bok mani badeuseyo!Dohyun, happy Lunar New Year!
- 도현 Do-hyeon수빈 씨도 새해 복 많이 받으세요.Subin ssi-do saehae bok mani badeuseyo.Happy New Year to you too, Subin.
- 수빈 Su-bin올 한 해 정말 행복하세요.ol han hae jeongmal haengbokhaseyo.I hope you are very happy this year.
- 도현 Do-hyeon감사합니다, 수빈 씨도요.gamsahamnida, Subin ssi-do-yo.Thank you, you too, Subin.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 새해 복 많이 받으세요, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 복, 새해, 새해 복 많이 받으세요, CC BY-SA 4.0.
