Happy Birthday in Korean
Part of: Happy Birthday in Every Language
Happy birthday in Korean is 생일 축하해, pronounced SENG-il chook-ha-HEH. That is the casual form for close friends. Add 요 to get 생일 축하해요 for most situations, or use 생일 축하합니다 for a boss or an elder. Korean has three levels here and picking the wrong one is noticeable.
Tap Copy on any wish, then paste it into your message. Or turn one into an animated fireworks card you can send as a link.
Every phrase below has a Copy button. Hangul cannot be typed on a normal keyboard, so copying is the practical way to send it.
The three levels
| Korean | Pronounced | Use it with |
|---|---|---|
| 생일 축하해 | SENG-il chook-ha-HEH | Close friends, younger people, siblings |
| 생일 축하해요 | SENG-il chook-ha-HEH-yo | Most situations — the safe default |
| 생일 축하합니다 | SENG-il chook-ha-HAM-ni-da | Boss, elders, customers, public speech |
| 생신 축하합니다 | SENG-shin chook-ha-HAM-ni-da | Grandparents and the elderly — honorific word for birthday |
The last row matters. 생신 is the respectful word for birthday, used when speaking about or to someone much older. Using 생일 with a grandparent is not offensive, but 생신 shows you know the difference.
If you are unsure which to use, 생일 축하해요 is almost never wrong.
Copy these
생일 축하해!
생일 축하해요!
생일 축하합니다!
생일 축하해요. 좋은 하루 보내세요.
생일 축하해! 오늘 하루 행복하길 바라.
생일 축하합니다. 건강하시고 행복하세요.
행복한 생일 되세요.
생일 축하해요. 좋은 일만 가득하길 바랍니다.
생일 축하해! 앞으로도 잘 부탁해.
멋진 한 해가 되기를 바랍니다.
For someone you love
생일 축하해, 사랑해.
내 인생에서 가장 소중한 사람, 생일 축하해.
태어나줘서 고마워.
너와 함께라서 행복해. 생일 축하해.
생일 축하해. 앞으로도 계속 같이 있자.
For family
엄마, 생신 축하드려요. 사랑해요.
아빠, 생신 축하드려요. 항상 감사합니다.
할머니, 생신 축하드립니다. 오래오래 건강하세요.
누나, 생일 축하해.
아들아, 생일 축하한다.
For work
생일 축하합니다.
생일 축하드립니다. 좋은 한 해 되세요.
생일 축하합니다. 늘 감사드립니다.
팀원 모두가 축하드립니다.
The birthday song in Korean
Korea sings the familiar tune with Korean words:
생일 축하합니다, 생일 축하합니다, 사랑하는 [name], 생일 축하합니다.
It is sung at almost every birthday, often followed by seaweed soup rather than more cake.
What is different about a Korean birthday
Two customs stand out.
Miyeokguk, seaweed soup, is eaten on your birthday. Mothers eat it after giving birth, so eating it on your birthday is a quiet acknowledgement of your mother.
Korea traditionally counted age differently, with everyone gaining a year at New Year. The system was officially standardised to international age in 2023, but you will still hear people refer to their Korean age.
The first birthday, doljanchi, is a large celebration with a ceremony where the child picks an object said to predict their future.
Party words worth knowing
| Korean | Romanised | English |
|---|---|---|
| 생일 | saengil | birthday |
| 케이크 | keikeu | cake |
| 촛불 | chotbul | candles |
| 선물 | seonmul | gift |
| 소원 | sowon | a wish |
| 파티 | pati | party |
Send a card in Hangul
Most card tools render Hangul as empty boxes, which is the usual reason people give up and send the greeting in English instead.
The free fireworks card maker renders Korean correctly. Paste 생일 축하해요 into it and each character launches and explodes with real firework sound. Send it as a link that plays instantly on their phone, in the right script.
Common questions
How do you say happy birthday in Korean? 생일 축하해요, pronounced SENG-il chook-ha-HEH-yo. Drop the 요 for close friends, or use 생일 축하합니다 for formal situations.
What is the difference between 생일 and 생신? Both mean birthday. 생신 is the honorific form, used for grandparents and elderly people.
Which form should I use with someone my own age I just met? 생일 축하해요. The polite form is the safe default until you are told otherwise.
Why do Koreans eat seaweed soup on their birthday? Mothers traditionally eat miyeokguk after childbirth, so eating it on your birthday quietly honours your mother.
How do you say happy belated birthday in Korean? 늦었지만 생일 축하해 for friends, or 늦었지만 생일 축하합니다 in formal settings.