What does 생일 축하해 (saengil chukhae) mean?
- 생일 축하해saengil chukhae
Happy birthday
Casual: friends and people younger than you
생일 축하해 (saengil chukhae) means "happy birthday" in Korean. It is the casual form for friends, siblings and partners. For someone older, say 생일 축하해요 or 생일 축하드려요.
Where it comes from
생일 means birthday and 축하해 means "I congratulate." Together it says "congratulations on your birthday."
How to use 생일 축하해
Koreans send it by text first thing in the morning or at midnight. Close friends often shorten it to 생축 or ㅊㅋ in chats.
The Korean birthday song uses the formal form: 생일 축하합니다, 생일 축하합니다, 사랑하는 (name)의 생일 축하합니다.
For parents or grandparents, many people use the honorific word 생신 (birthday) and say 생신 축하드려요.
Examples
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Texting a best friend at midnight
Calling a younger sibling's name
A card for mom
Other ways to say it
| Korean | Meaning | When |
|---|---|---|
| 생일 축하해요 | Happy birthday | Polite. |
| 생일 축하합니다 | Happy birthday | Formal; also the birthday song. |
| 생일 축하드려요 | Happy birthday | Very respectful, for teachers or bosses. |
| 생신 축하드려요 | Happy birthday | Honorific, for grandparents and elders. |
| 생축 | HBD | Short slang in texts. |
Questions learners ask
How do you say happy birthday politely in Korean?
Say 생일 축하해요 (polite) or 생일 축하드려요 (very respectful). For elders, use 생신 축하드려요.
How do you reply to saengil chukhae?
Say 고마워 (thanks) to a friend or 감사합니다 to someone older.