Korean · Greetings & Essentials
"Happy birthday!" in Korean: 생일 축하해요
생일 축하해요saengil chukahaeyo
Happy birthday! in Korean is 생일 축하해요 (saengil chukahaeyo). 생일 축하해요 is a polite birthday wish; 생신 is a respectful birthday noun for an older or respected person.
Happy birthday!: starting the exchange
생일 축하해요. 좋은 하루 보내세요.saengil chukahaeyo. joeun haru bonaeseyo.
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How to pronounce 생일 축하해요
Say it
saengil chukahaeyo
/sɛŋil tɕʰukʰahɛjo/
생일 축하해요 is read saengil chukahaeyo. In 생신 축하드려요, read the full phrase as saengsin chukadeuryeoyo.
"Happy birthday!" in Korean: quick reference
| Korean | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| 생일 축하해요saengil chukahaeyo | Happy birthday! The inventory form for happy birthday!. | The inventory form for happy birthday!. |
| 생신 축하드려요saengsin chukadeuryeoyo | happy birthday (respectful) 생일 축하해요 is a polite birthday wish; 생신 is a respectful birthday noun for an older or respected person. | 생일 축하해요 is a polite birthday wish; 생신 is a respectful birthday noun for an older or respected person. |
How to use 생일 축하해요 in real life
- 1Happy birthday!: starting the exchange
생일 축하해요. 좋은 하루 보내세요.
saengil chukahaeyo. joeun haru bonaeseyo.
Happy birthday. Have a good day.
생일 축하해요 is a polite birthday wish; 생신 is a respectful birthday noun for an older or respected person.
- 2Happy birthday!: adding useful context
민수 씨, 생일 축하해요.
minsu ssi, saengil chukahaeyo.
Minsu, happy birthday.
This sentence places 생일 축하해요 in a complete exchange.
- 3Happy birthday!: a different conversation
늦었지만 생일 축하해요.
neujeotjiman saengil chukahaeyo.
Happy birthday, even though it is late.
This sentence places 생일 축하해요 in a complete exchange.
Mistakes English speakers make with 생일 축하해요
Incorrect: 생일 축하해요. 좋은 하루 보내세요이에요.
Correct: 생일 축하해요. 좋은 하루 보내세요.
When practicing happy birthday, a conjugated predicate already finishes this sentence; do not append the noun copula 이에요. Keep the complete form 생일 축하해요. 좋은 하루 보내세요.
Incorrect: 생일 축하해요. 좋은 하루 보내세요습니다.
Correct: 생일 축하해요. 좋은 하루 보내세요.
When practicing happy birthday, do not append a formal sentence ending to a predicate that already has its polite ending. Keep the complete form 생일 축하해요. 좋은 하루 보내세요.
Good to know
생일 축하해요 is a polite birthday wish; 생신 is a respectful birthday noun for an older or respected person.
Read this practice conversation aloud
Tutor-led greetings and essentials study exercise: two sentences with 생일 축하해요
Partner
이 표현을 사용해서 한 문장 말해 볼까요?
i pyohyeoneul sayonghaeseo han munjang malhae bolkkayo?
Shall we say a sentence using this expression?
You
생일 축하해요. 좋은 하루 보내세요.
saengil chukahaeyo. joeun haru bonaeseyo.
Happy birthday. Have a good day.
Partner
좋아요. 다른 문장으로도 연습해 볼까요?
joayo. dareun munjangeurodo yeonseupae bolkkayo?
Good. Shall we practice with another sentence too?
You
민수 씨, 생일 축하해요.
minsu ssi, saengil chukahaeyo.
Minsu, happy birthday.
This is a sample dialogue for reading aloud. Try both parts, then replace a detail with one from your own life.
Explore ChatPal"Happy birthday!" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Happy birthday!" in Korean
What does 생일 축하해요 mean?
Happy birthday! in Korean is 생일 축하해요 (saengil chukahaeyo). 생일 축하해요 is a polite birthday wish; 생신 is a respectful birthday noun for an older or respected person.
When should I say 생신 축하드려요?
생일 축하해요 is a polite birthday wish; 생신 is a respectful birthday noun for an older or respected person.
How does 생신 축하드려요 differ from the basic expression?
생신 축하드려요 means “happy birthday (respectful)”. 생일 축하해요 is a polite birthday wish; 생신 is a respectful birthday noun for an older or respected person.
Can I use 생일 축하해요 in a full sentence?
생일 축하해요. 좋은 하루 보내세요. means “Happy birthday. Have a good day.” 생일 축하해요 is a polite birthday wish; 생신 is a respectful birthday noun for an older or respected person.
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