Are you planning to wish someone a happy birthday in Korean? In this article, I will provide you with a step-by-step guide on how to say happy birthday in Korean, as well as some additional information on Korean culture related to birthdays.
Korean language is not just spoken in Korea, but also in other countries like North Korea, China, Japan, and Russia. Korea is a country that places a high value on birthdays, and it is considered an important day of the year. So, if you want to impress someone and make their day extra special, knowing how to say happy birthday in Korean is a great start.
1. Basic Vocabulary of How to Say Happy Birthday in Korean
Before we dive into the exact phrase for how to say happy birthday in Korean, let’s learn some basic vocabulary.
The word for “birthday” in Korean is 생일 (saeng-il).
To say “happy” in Korean, you can use either 행복한 (haeng-bo-kan) or 즐거운 (jeul-geo-un). Both mean “happy” or “joyful”.
Example: A: “생일이 언제예요?” B: “My birthday is on July 12th.”
생일이 언제예요?
생일이 (saeng-i-ri) 언제예요 (eon-je-ye-yo)?
생일 (birthday) 이 (my subject is birthday) 언제 (when) 예요 (is; I’m asking you polite and friendly)?
When is your birthday?
Lit. When is birthday?
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2. How to Say Happy Birthday in Korean
The most common and basic way on how to say happy birthday in Korean is “생일 축하해” (saen-gil chuk-ka-hae).
You can also add the person’s name to make it more personalized: “name-ssi, 생일 축하해” (name-ssi, saen-gil chuk-ka-hae). The “-ssi” suffix is used to show respect to the person you are speaking to.
Example: A: “I got a birthday present from my friend.” B: “정말 좋은 친구네. 생일 축하해. (That’s a really good friend. Happy birthday to you.)”
정말 좋은 친구네. 생일 축하해.
정말 (jeong-mal) 좋은 (jo-eun) 친구네 (chin-gu-ne). 생일 (saeng-il) 축하해 (chu-ka-hae).
정말 (really) 좋은 (good) 친구 (friend) 네 (is; I’m sharing my feelings with you). 생일 (birthday) 축하하 (to congratulate) 해 (I’m telling you casually).
That’s a really good friend. Happy birthday to you.
Lit. (That)’s really good friend. Congratulate birthday.
3. Other Ways to Say Happy Birthday in Korean
If you want to be more creative or formal, you can use these variations of the basic phrase:
- “생일 축하드려요” (saeng-il chuk-ka-deu-ryeo-yo): This is a more formal way of how to say happy birthday in Korean. You can use it when talking to someone older than you or someone you don’t know well.
- “생일 축하합니다” (saeng-il chuk-ka-ham-ni-da): This is another formal way to say happy birthday in Korean. It can be used in business settings or other formal situations.
- “생일을 진심으로 축하해요” (saeng-i-reul jin-si-meu-ro chuk-ka-hae-yo): This phrase means “sincerely congratulate you on your birthday”. It is a more poetic way to say happy birthday in Korean.
4. Celebrating Birthdays in Korean Culture
In Korean culture, birthdays are an important milestone, and they’re celebrated with great enthusiasm. Here are some of the things you should know about celebrating birthdays in Korean culture:
- Age is important: In Korean culture, age is very important, and it’s customary to celebrate each milestone birthday with a big celebration. The most important birthdays are the first (doljanchi), 60th (hwangap), and 70th (gohee).
- Traditional food: There are several traditional foods that are eaten on birthdays in Korea. One of the most popular is miyeokguk, which is a seaweed soup that’s believed to bring good health and longevity.
- Gifts: In Korean culture, it’s customary to give gifts on birthdays. The most common gifts are money or gift certificates, but other gifts like clothes, jewelry, or electronics are also popular.
- Song: In addition to saying “Happy Birthday,” it’s also customary to sing the Korean version of “Happy Birthday” (생일 축하합니다) while cutting the birthday cake.
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Conclusion
In conclusion, how to say happy birthday in Korean can be a fun and meaningful way to celebrate someone’s special day. With the step-by-step guide provided in this article, you can confidently wish your Korean-speaking friends and loved ones a happy birthday and show them how much you care. Remember to practice the phrases and pronunciation to improve your Korean language skills and make your greetings even more special. Whether you choose to say “생일 축하합니다” or any other variation, the sent
