새해 복 많이 받으세요
saehae bok mani badeuseyo[sʰɛɦɛ po̞ŋma̠ni pa̠dɯsʰe̞jo]
happy seollal in Korean is said as 새해 복 많이 받으세요 (saehae bok mani badeuseyo).
This phrase is used to wish someone a happy Lunar New Year. It carries the sentiment, "I hope you receive many New Year's blessings."
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally translates to "Please receive much new year luck". The word 새해 is a compound of 새 (new) and 해 (year), while 복 refers to luck, fortune or blessings.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The standard polite way to greet someone is 새해 복 많이 받으세요, which is suitable for elders or people you are not close with. For very formal settings or when addressing a group, you can use 새해 복 많이 받으십시오. In informal situations, such as when speaking to close friends, family or younger people, you can use 새해 복 많이 받아 or 새해 복 많이 받아라.
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb 받으세요 is the polite imperative form of 받다, meaning "please receive".
How do you pronounce it?
saehae bok mani badeuseyo
Did you know?
- In Korean culture, wishing someone luck with this phrase is often accompanied by the tradition of 'sebae', where younger people perform a deep formal bow to elders to receive blessings and pocket money.
- The word 해 (year) in 새해 is also the Korean word for 'sun', which provides a poetic connection between the passing of a year and the solar cycle.
- While you are wishing others 'luck', the phrase is structured as an imperative command to 'receive' it, as if the fortune is a physical gift being handed over.
Examples in context
- 새해 복 많이 받으세요.saehae bok mani badeuseyo.Happy New Year.
- 할머니, 새해 복 많이 받으세요.halmeoni, saehae bok mani badeuseyo.Grandmother, happy New Year.
- 모두 새해 복 많이 받으세요!modu saehae bok mani badeuseyo!Happy New Year, everyone!
Example conversation
Jihoon and Minji meet at a cafe during the Lunar New Year holiday.
- 지훈 Ji-hun민지 씨, 새해 복 많이 받으세요.Minji ssi, saehae bok mani badeuseyo.Minji, happy New Year.
- 민지 Min-ji지훈 씨도 새해 복 많이 받으세요.Jihoon ssi-do saehae bok mani badeuseyo.Happy New Year to you too, Jihoon.
- 지훈 Ji-hun명절 잘 보내세요.myeongjeol jal bonaeseyo.Have a great holiday.
- 민지 Min-ji네, 감사합니다.ne, gamsahamnida.Yes, thank you.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 새해 복 많이 받으세요, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
