Want to know how to say ‘happy birthday’ in Korean? You’re in the right place.
It’s always nice to wish someone a happy birthday on their special day but why not do it in a language that means something to them.
As well as wishing your loved one a happy birthday in Korean, why not also sing the Korean version of the happy birthday song! Read on to learn more about this.
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How To Say ‘Happy Birthday’ In Korean
To wish someone a happy birthday in Korean, there are a few different phrases you can use. They vary depending on who you’re speaking to and the level of respect you want to show.
For someone much older than you, such as an older relative or a teacher/professor, say:
| English | Korean | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Happy birthday | 생신 축하드려요 | Saeng-il chuk-ha-duh-ryo-yo |
For someone who is just a little older than you, or if you’re not sure which form to use, say:
| English | Korean | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Happy birthday | 생일 축하합니다 | Saeng-il chukahamnida |
| Happy birthday | 생일 축하해요 | Saeng-il chukahaeyo |
The phrase ‘saengil chukahamnida’ is slightly more formal than ‘saengil chukahaeyo’.
For someone who is your age or younger say:
| English | Korean | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Happy birthday | 생일 축하해 | Saeng-il chukahae |
| Happy birthday | 생일 축하 | Saeng-il chuka |
There are a few other variations of these phrases, but these are the most common.
To hear the pronunciation of these phrases, check out the below videos:
Alternatively, you can also use some of these phrases:
| English | Korean | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Congratulations (formal, female speaker) | 축하해요 | Chukahaeyo |
| Congratulations (formal, male speaker) | 축하합니다 | Chukhamnida |
| Congratulations (informal, not gender specific) | 축하해 | Chukhahae |
How To Sing Happy Birthday In Korean
If you want to go the extra mile for your loved one or friend, try singing the happy birthday song in Korean. You’ll be happy to know it’s the same tune as the English version, they just sing it in Korean.
Check out the video below to hear the Korean birthday song. I’ve listed the lyrics below so you can sing along.
Here’s the lyrics so you can sing along:
“생일 축하합니다
생일 축하합니다
사랑하는 *name*
생일 축하합니다”
This is pronounced as:
“Saeng-il chukahamnida
saeng-il chukahamnida
sarang haneun *name*
saeng-il chukahamnida”
This translates to:
“Happy birthday to you!
Happy birthday to you!
Dear *name*
Happy birthday to you!”
Korean Birthday Traditions
Birthday traditions can be very important to many people on their birthdays. To make your loved one feel extra special you can also try some of these Korean birthday traditions.
1st Birthday
A child’s 1st birthday is a big event in Korea. A long time ago, infant mortality was very high so if a child reached their 1st birthday this was a huge accomplishment. Parents often throw a huge party for their child called a 돌잔치 (doljanchi) where they invite lots of family and friends to celebrate.
Interestingly, on your 1st birthday in Korea you actually turn 2! Korean ages are a bit confusing as you’re actually 1 year old the day you are born.
Seaweed Soup
It’s common for people to eat a traditional Korean dish on their birthdays called ‘miyeok guk’ (미역국) which is a seaweed soup.
This came about because mothers often eat this dish whilst they are pregnant as it’s rich in iodine and calcium and this is thought to be beneficial for uterus contractions and milk production.
Children often eat this on their birthday in remembrance of their mothers journey through pregnancy and childbirth.
Important Birthdays
As well as a child’s first birthday, there are a few other birthdays of huge importance in Korean culture. These are the 60th, 70th and 80th birthdays. The reason for this is because it’s a huge accomplishment to reach these ages as in the past people often didn’t live this long.
Thanks for reading this post on how to say ‘happy birthday’ in Korean.
It’s a great idea to make the effort to learn how to say this in someone’s native language or a language that means something to them.
Your loved one or friend will be so impressed!
If you want to learn some beginner phrases, try learning how to say ‘how are you’ in Korean.
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