태어난 해
taeeonan hae
In Korean, "your birth year" is expressed as 태어난 해 (taeeonan hae).
The phrase 태어난 해 is used to refer to the year a person was born. In informal settings, the formula for your birth year is 'Your Birth Year' + 년생. When discussing calendar years or birth years in general contexts, the counter word 년 is used. Note that while 년 refers to the year, the counter 세 is used when talking about someone's age, not the year itself.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the verb 태어나다 (to be born) in its past modifier form 태어난 and the noun 해 (year), literally meaning "the year (one) was born".
Which one should you use?
While 태어난 해 is common in speech, 태어난 연도 is a more formal way to refer to a birth year in administrative or official contexts.
How do you pronounce it?
taeeonan hae
Did you know?
- In Korea, knowing someone's birth year is often more important than knowing their exact age. Because age is traditionally counted by the year you are born, your birth year determines your social seniority and the level of politeness you must use.
- While 해 means 'year', it is also the native Korean word for 'sun'. This dual meaning connects the concept of a passing year to the solar cycle.
- While 태어난 해 refers to the year of birth, Korean culture traditionally used a lunar calendar, meaning a person's 'birth year' could differ from the Gregorian year.
Examples in context
- 1990년Year 1990
- 태어난 해가 언제예요?tae-eo-nan hae-ga eon-je-ye-yo?What is your birth year?
- 그는 태어난 해를 기억하지 못해요.geu-neun tae-eo-nan hae-reul gi-eok-ha-ji mot-hae-yo.He does not remember his birth year.
Example conversation
Dohyun and Jieun are filling out a registration form together.
- 도현 Do-hyeon지은 씨, 여기 태어난 해를 적어야 해요.Ji-eun ssi, yeo-gi tae-eo-nan hae-reul jeok-eo-ya hae-yo.Jieun, you have to write your birth year here.
- 지은 Ji-eun아, 알겠어요. 여기 썼어요.a, al-get-eo-yo. yeo-gi sseot-eo-yo.Oh, I see. I wrote it here.
- 도현 Do-hyeon태어난 해가 1995년이시네요.tae-eo-nan hae-ga cheon-gu-baek-gu-sip-o-nyeon-i-si-ne-yo.Your birth year is 1995.
- 지은 Ji-eun네, 맞아요. 도현 씨는요?ne, ma-ja-yo. Do-hyeon ssi-neun-yo?Yes, that's right. How about you, Dohyun?
