How to say “Happy birthday” in Korean
- 생일 축하해요saengil chukhahaeyo
Happy birthday
"Happy birthday" in Korean is 생일 축하해요 (saengil chukhahaeyo), which literally means "I congratulate you on your birthday." With close friends you can drop the 요 and say 생일 축하해 (saengil chukhahae). For grandparents and other elders, Koreans use the honorific word 생신 instead of 생일.
Ways to say it
| Korean | Level | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| 생일 축하해 saengil chukhahae | Casual | To friends, younger siblings, or a partner. This is what you will see most in texts and on social media. |
| 생일 축하해요 saengil chukhahaeyo | Polite | The safe everyday choice for coworkers, classmates you are not close to, or anyone you speak politely to. |
| 생일 축하합니다 saengil chukhahamnida | Formal | Formal and a little ceremonial. It is also the line Koreans sing in the birthday song. |
| 생신 축하드려요 saengsin chukhadeuryeoyo | Polite | For parents, grandparents, and other elders. 생신 is the respectful word for birthday and 드려요 humbly lowers you. |
| 생축 saengchuk | Casual | A short slang form of 생일 축하, used only in texts and comments between friends. |
Examples
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Texting a friend on their birthday
Writing in a coworker's birthday card
Calling your grandmother on her birthday
Tips
축하 is pronounced more like "chu-ka" because the ㄱ and ㅎ blend into a strong k sound. So 생일 축하해 sounds like "saeng-il chu-ka-hae."
Use 생신 instead of 생일 when the birthday belongs to someone older and respected, like a grandparent, a parent, or a boss. Saying 생일 to them is not rude among family, but 생신 shows extra care.
On their birthday many Koreans eat 미역국 (miyeokguk), a seaweed soup. Asking "미역국 먹었어?" (Did you eat seaweed soup?) is a friendly birthday question.
More on 생일 축하해 in our Korean phrase guides.
Questions learners ask
How do you sing happy birthday in Korean?
The Korean birthday song uses the same tune as the English one. The words are 생일 축하합니다, 생일 축하합니다, 사랑하는 (name), 생일 축하합니다.
How do you say happy birthday to an older person in Korean?
Say 생신 축하드려요 (saengsin chukhadeuryeoyo). It uses the honorific word for birthday and a humble verb, so it fits grandparents, parents, and bosses.
What do ㅊㅋ and 생축 mean in a birthday text?
ㅊㅋ is short for 축하 (congrats), and 생축 is short for 생일 축하 (happy birthday). They are casual texting shortcuts for friends only.