Korean · People & Family
"Birthday" in Korean: 생일
생일saengil
Birthday in Korean is 생일 (saengil). 생일 is the Korean noun for birthday; 날짜 asks about its calendar date; 준비하다 describes preparations for the event.
Checking a date
생일이 언제예요?saengiri eonjeyeyo?
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How to pronounce 생일
Say it
saengil
/sɛŋil/
생일 (saengil) has 2 Hangul syllables. The final ㄹ in 생일 is l-like; before a vowel it can link as a brief tapped r.
"Birthday" in Korean: quick reference
| Korean | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| 생일saengil | Birthday Basic dictionary noun. | Basic dictionary noun. |
| 생일 날짜saengil naljja | birthday date A useful combination with 생일. | A useful combination with 생일. |
| 생일을saengireul | Birthday (as an object) Use 을 when 생일 is the object of an action. | Use 을 when 생일 is the object of an action. |
How to use 생일 in real life
- 1Checking a date
생일이 언제예요?
saengiri eonjeyeyo?
When is the birthday?
생일이 marks 생일 as the subject.
- 2Making preparations
생일을 준비하고 있어요.
saengireul junbihago isseoyo.
I am preparing for the birthday.
생일을 uses 을 to mark an object.
- 3Inviting someone
생일에 같이 갈까요?
saengire gachi galkkayo?
Shall we go to the birthday together?
생일 appears in a complete sentence for birthday.
Mistakes English speakers make with 생일
Incorrect: 생일가 언제예요?
Correct: 생일이 언제예요?
When practicing birthday, use the correct particle or copula after 생일; the final sound determines whether a linking consonant is needed.
Incorrect: 생일예요.
Correct: 생일이에요.
When practicing birthday, when identifying something as 생일, use 생일이에요. The linking 이 follows a consonant-final noun.
Good to know
생일 is the Korean noun for birthday; 날짜 asks about its calendar date; 준비하다 describes preparations for the event. The combination 생일 날짜 (saengil naljja) means birthday date.
Read this practice conversation aloud
Tutor-led people and family study exercise: two sentences with 생일
Partner
이 표현을 사용해서 한 문장 말해 볼까요?
i pyohyeoneul sayonghaeseo han munjang malhae bolkkayo?
Shall we say a sentence using this expression?
You
생일이 언제예요?
saengiri eonjeyeyo?
When is the birthday?
Partner
좋아요. 다른 문장으로도 연습해 볼까요?
joayo. dareun munjangeurodo yeonseupae bolkkayo?
Good. Shall we practice with another sentence too?
You
생일을 준비하고 있어요.
saengireul junbihago isseoyo.
I am preparing for the birthday.
This is a sample dialogue for reading aloud. Try both parts, then replace a detail with one from your own life.
Explore ChatPal"Birthday" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Birthday" in Korean
What does 생일 mean in Korean?
Birthday in Korean is 생일 (saengil). 생일 is the Korean noun for birthday; 날짜 asks about its calendar date; 준비하다 describes preparations for the event.
How do I use 생일 날짜?
생일 날짜 (saengil naljja) means birthday date. 생일 is the Korean noun for birthday; 날짜 asks about its calendar date; 준비하다 describes preparations for the event.
Which object particle goes after 생일?
The object form is 생일을 because 생일 ends in a consonant.
How is 생일 pronounced?
생일 (saengil) has 2 Hangul syllables. The final ㄹ in 생일 is l-like; before a vowel it can link as a brief tapped r.
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