생일 축하해
How to say happy birthday in Korean A1
생일 축하합니다 / 축하해요 / 축하해, the birthday song, 생신 for elders, and what to write on a card.
Every form, from formal to casual
생일 is birthday, 축하하다 is to congratulate. Put them together and pick the politeness ending.
| Korean | Romanization | Level | Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| 생일 축하합니다 | saengil chukhahamnida | Formal | The song, cards, coworkers |
| 생일 축하해요 | saengil chukhahaeyo | Polite | Acquaintances |
| 생일 축하해 | saengil chukhahae | Casual | Friends |
| 생신 축하드립니다 | saengsin chukhadeurimnida | Honorific | Parents, grandparents, boss |
| 생축 | saengchuk | Slang | Texting |
Which one do I actually use?
The Korean birthday song is 생일 축하합니다 sung to the same tune as the English one. For your friend’s mother use the honorific noun 생신 and humble 드리다. Card line: 생일 진심으로 축하해요. 행복한 하루 보내세요. Traditional birthday breakfast is seaweed soup, 미역국 — asking 미역국 먹었어? is itself a birthday greeting.
Pronunciation notes
- 생일 축하해
축하 is [추카]: ㄱ + ㅎ merge into aspirated ㅋ.
- 생신
saeng-sin, the honorific word for an elder’s birthday.
Vocabulary set
Cards are saved in this browser and scheduled with spaced repetition.
Quick drill
Common mistakes
- ✗ 생일 축하해 to your manager✓ 생신 축하드립니다Elders/superiors take the honorific noun 생신 and humble 드리다.
- ✗ Pronouncing 축하 as chuk-ha✓ [추카]Aspiration merger: ㄱ+ㅎ → ㅋ.
Example sentences
FAQ
How do you say happy birthday in Korean?
생일 축하해 (casual), 생일 축하해요 (polite), 생일 축하합니다 (formal). For elders: 생신 축하드립니다.
What is the Korean birthday song?
생일 축하합니다 sung to the “Happy Birthday” melody: 생일 축하합니다 ×2, 사랑하는 (name), 생일 축하합니다.
What does 생축 mean?
Texting slang for 생일 축하 — “HBD.”
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