How to Say Happy Birthday in Chinese
How to say happy birthday in Chinese: '生日快乐' (Shēngrì kuàilè), pronounced shung-ir kwai-luh. Learn the phrase, pinyin, tones, blessings and birthday customs in Mandarin.
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Quick answer
To say happy birthday in Chinese, say '生日快乐' (Shēngrì kuàilè), pronounced shung-ir KWAI-luh — it literally means 'birthday happy.' For elders, add a longevity blessing like '长命百岁' (Chángmìng bǎisuì, 'may you live a hundred years').
生日快乐
/shung-ir KWAI-luh/ — Chinese
How to Say Happy Birthday in Chinese
Birthdays are warmly celebrated across the Chinese-speaking world, and the phrase you need is simple and joyful: 生日快乐 (Shēngrì kuàilè). Beyond the basic greeting, Mandarin offers a rich set of blessings — especially for elders — that turn a birthday wish into something heartfelt.
The Essential Phrase: 生日快乐 (Shēngrì kuàilè)
生日快乐 — pronounced shung-ir KWAI-luh
It combines 生日 (shēngrì, “birthday,” literally “birth-day”) and 快乐 (kuàilè, “happy/joyful”), giving “birthday happy.” It works for everyone — friends, family, coworkers, cards and texts. To make it more personal, add 祝你 (Zhù nǐ, “wishing you”) in front: 祝你生日快乐! (Zhù nǐ shēngrì kuàilè!) — “Wishing you a happy birthday!”
Copy the Phrase
The Chinese for happy birthday is 生日快乐 (Shēngrì kuàilè), pronounced shung-ir KWAI-luh.
Birthday Wishes and Blessings in Chinese
| Chinese | Pinyin | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 生日快乐 | Shēngrì kuàilè | Happy birthday |
| 祝你生日快乐 | Zhù nǐ shēngrì kuàilè | Wishing you a happy birthday |
| 长命百岁 | Chángmìng bǎisuì | Live to a hundred (for elders) |
| 寿比南山 | Shòu bǐ Nánshān | Long life like the Southern Mountain |
| 福如东海 | Fú rú Dōnghǎi | Fortune vast as the Eastern Sea |
| 岁岁平安 | Suìsuì píng’ān | Peace year after year |
| 心想事成 | Xīn xiǎng shì chéng | May your wishes come true |
| 身体健康 | Shēntǐ jiànkāng | Good health |
| 天天开心 | Tiāntiān kāixīn | Be happy every day |
Pronunciation and Tones
- 生 (shēng): first tone — high and level. “shung.”
- 日 (rì): the Mandarin “r” is unique; curl the tongue back, somewhere between English “r” and the “s” in “measure.” Said low. “ir.”
- 快 (kuài): fourth tone — sharp falling. “kwai” (rhymes with “why”).
- 乐 (lè): fourth tone — falling. “luh.”
Tip: the same word 快乐 (kuàilè) appears in 新年快乐 (Xīnnián kuàilè, “Happy New Year”), so learning it once unlocks many greetings.
Wishes for Elders
For older relatives, plain 生日快乐 is fine, but adding a longevity blessing is traditional and respectful:
- 长命百岁 (Chángmìng bǎisuì) — “may you live a hundred years.”
- 寿比南山,福如东海 (Shòu bǐ Nánshān, fú rú Dōnghǎi) — a poetic pair meaning “long life like the mountain, fortune like the sea.”
These four-character idioms (成语, chéngyǔ) carry centuries of cultural weight and delight older recipients.
Birthday Customs and the Song
The Chinese birthday song uses the exact melody of the English “Happy Birthday,” with lyrics simply repeating 祝你生日快乐 (Zhù nǐ shēngrì kuàilè). A few cultural touches worth knowing:
- Longevity noodles (长寿面, chángshòu miàn): long, uncut noodles eaten on birthdays to symbolize a long life — slurp them whole, do not bite through!
- Peach-shaped buns (寿桃, shòutáo): steamed buns shaped like peaches, a classic symbol of longevity served at elders’ birthdays.
- Traditionally, some elders’ big birthdays (like the 60th) follow the lunar calendar and are celebrated with extra grandeur.
Putting It Together
A complete, warm birthday message in Chinese might read:
祝你生日快乐,身体健康,心想事成! Zhù nǐ shēngrì kuàilè, shēntǐ jiànkāng, xīn xiǎng shì chéng! “Wishing you a happy birthday, good health, and may all your wishes come true!”
Stacking blessings like this is completely natural in Chinese and shows genuine care.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you say happy birthday in Chinese?
Say '生日快乐' (Shēngrì kuàilè), pronounced shung-ir KWAI-luh. It literally means 'birthday happy' and is the universal Mandarin birthday greeting, used for friends, family and on cards alike. You can add a name first: '小明,生日快乐!'
How do you pronounce 生日快乐 (Shēngrì kuàilè)?
It is shung-ir KWAI-luh. 生 (shēng) is first tone, high and flat; 日 (rì) has a tricky 'r' that sounds between 'r' and the 's' in 'measure,' said low; 快 (kuài) is fourth tone, falling like 'kwai'; 乐 (lè) is fourth tone, 'luh.'
What does 生日快乐 literally mean in Chinese?
'生日快乐' breaks down as 生日 (shēngrì = birthday, literally 'birth-day') + 快乐 (kuàilè = happy/joyful). Together it means 'birthday happy,' or in natural English 'happy birthday.' The same 快乐 is used in other holiday greetings.
How do you wish an elder happy birthday in Chinese?
For elders, longevity blessings are traditional: '长命百岁' (Chángmìng bǎisuì, 'live to a hundred'), '寿比南山' (Shòu bǐ Nánshān, 'long life like the Southern Mountain'), and '福如东海' (Fú rú Dōnghǎi, 'fortune as vast as the Eastern Sea'). These show deep respect.
Is the Chinese happy birthday song the same as the English one?
Yes — the melody is identical to the English 'Happy Birthday to You.' The lyrics simply repeat '祝你生日快乐' (Zhù nǐ shēngrì kuàilè, 'wishing you a happy birthday') over and over to the same tune, so it is easy to sing along.