How to Say Happy Birthday in Korean
Learn how to say Happy Birthday in Korean. 'Saengil chukhahae' is casual; 'Saengil chukhahamnida' is formal. Hangul, pronunciation, the birthday song, and seaweed soup.
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Quick answer
To say Happy Birthday in Korean, say 'Saengil chukhahae' (생일 축하해, saeng-il chook-ha-HEH) casually with friends, or 'Saengil chukhahamnida' (생일 축하합니다) formally. The honorific version for elders is 'Saengil chukha deurimnida.' 'Saengil' means birthday and 'chukhahae' means congratulations, so it literally means 'birthday congratulations.'
생일 축하해
/saeng-il chook-ha-HEH/ — Korean
How to Say Happy Birthday in Korean
A Korean birthday greeting is really a congratulation, not just a wish for happiness — and, as with most Korean phrases, the wording shifts depending on how much respect you owe the person. Here is how to say it warmly and correctly, plus a couple of lovely cultural details.
The Core Phrase: Saengil chukhahae
생일 축하해 (Saengil chukhahae) — pronounced saeng-il chook-ha-HEH — is the casual “Happy Birthday” for friends, partners, and younger people. Broken down:
- 생일 (saengil) = birthday
- 축하해 (chukhahae) = congratulations / I congratulate (casual)
So it literally means “birthday congratulations.” Koreans use the verb chukhahada (축하하다, to congratulate) for birthdays, holidays, graduations, and any happy milestone.
Politeness Levels
| Korean | Romanization | Register |
|---|---|---|
| 생일 축하해 | Saengil chukhahae | Casual (friends, younger) |
| 생일 축하해요 | Saengil chukhahaeyo | Polite |
| 생일 축하합니다 | Saengil chukhahamnida | Formal |
| 생신 축하 드립니다 | Saengsin chukha deurimnida | Honorific (elders) |
For elders, the word saengil (birthday) is replaced by the honorific 생신 (saengsin), and chukhahamnida becomes the humble chukha deurimnida (“I offer congratulations”). This is the respectful version for grandparents and seniors.
Pronunciation Guide
| Phrase | Break it down |
|---|---|
| 생일 축하해 (Saengil chukhahae) | saeng + il + chook + ha + heh |
| 생일 축하합니다 (Saengil chukhahamnida) | saeng + il + chook + ha + ham + ni + da |
The “ae” in saengil sounds like a short “eh.” Keep the syllables even, with a soft aspiration on the “chuk.”
The Korean Birthday Song
Koreans sing to the same melody as the English “Happy Birthday to You,” with these lyrics:
생일 축하합니다 (Saengil chukhahamnida) 생일 축하합니다 (Saengil chukhahamnida) 사랑하는 [이름] (Saranghaneun [name]) 생일 축하합니다 (Saengil chukhahamnida)
사랑하는 (saranghaneun) means “beloved / dear,” filling the role of “dear [name]” in the English version.
Cultural Detail: Seaweed Soup
A beautiful Korean tradition is eating 미역국 (miyeok-guk), seaweed soup, on your birthday. Mothers eat it after giving birth for its nourishing, recovery-aiding properties, so eating it on your birthday honors your mother and the day you were born. A warm, very Korean birthday greeting is:
미역국 먹었어? (Miyeok-guk meogeosseo?) — “Did you eat seaweed soup?”
Useful Sentences
- 생일 축하해! 좋은 하루 보내. (Saengil chukhahae! Joeun haru bonae.) — Happy birthday! Have a great day.
- 생일 진짜 축하해! (Saengil jinjja chukhahae!) — Happy birthday, for real!
- 생신 축하 드립니다, 할머니. (Saengsin chukha deurimnida, halmeoni.) — Happy birthday, Grandma. (honorific)
- 선물 준비했어! (Seonmul junbihaesseo!) — I prepared a gift!
Quick Recap
Say Saengil chukhahae (saeng-il chook-ha-HEH) to friends, Saengil chukhahamnida for formal settings, and Saengsin chukha deurimnida for elders. It means “birthday congratulations.” Sing the song with saranghaneun [name], and for extra warmth, ask if they had their miyeok-guk. That is a truly Korean birthday wish.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Saengil chukhahae literally mean?
'Saengil chukhahae' (생일 축하해) literally means 'birthday congratulations / I congratulate your birthday.' 'Saengil' (생일) means birthday, and 'chukhahae' (축하해) is the casual form of 'chukhahada' (to congratulate). Koreans treat birthdays as something to congratulate rather than just wish happiness for.
How do you say happy birthday formally in Korean?
Use 'Saengil chukhahamnida' (생일 축하합니다) for general formal situations, or the honorific 'Saengil chukha deurimnida' (생신 축하 드립니다) for elders. For elders, 'saengil' becomes the honorific 'saengsin' (생신). Match the formality to the person's age and your relationship.
How do you pronounce Saengil chukhahae?
It's saeng-il chook-ha-HEH. 'Saengil' is saeng-il (the 'ae' like 'eh'), and 'chukhahae' is chook-ha-heh. The 'chuk' has a slightly aspirated 'ch.' Said smoothly: saeng-il-chook-ha-heh, five even syllables without heavy English stress.
Is there a Korean happy birthday song?
Yes — Koreans sing the same melody as the English 'Happy Birthday' song, with Korean lyrics: '생일 축하합니다, 생일 축하합니다, 사랑하는 [name], 생일 축하합니다' (Saengil chukhahamnida... saranghaneun [name], saengil chukhahamnida). 'Saranghaneun' means 'beloved/dear,' replacing 'dear [name].'
Why do Koreans eat seaweed soup on birthdays?
Koreans eat 'miyeok-guk' (미역국, seaweed soup) on birthdays. Mothers traditionally eat it after childbirth for recovery and nourishment, so eating it on your birthday honors your mother and your birth. Asking 'Did you eat seaweed soup?' is a warm, common birthday greeting in Korea.