Happy birthday in Korean: 생일 축하해요
생일 축하해요 (saengil chukhahaeyo) is how you say happy birthday in Korean. See every form from casual to formal, hear it, build it letter by letter and trace each block stroke by stroke.
How do you say happy birthday in Korean?
Happy birthday in Korean is 생일 축하해요 (saengil chukhahaeyo) in polite speech and 생일 축하해 with close friends. The birthday song uses 생일 축하합니다, and 생신 축하드립니다 is the respectful form for grandparents.
Happy birthday in Korean 생일 축하해요: sound, letters and strokes
생일 축하해요 Happy birthday in KoreanKorean phrase
생일 축하해요 is read saengil chukhahaeyo; 4 forms from casual to formal.
Casual, polite and formal happy birthday in Korean
humble formal: elders, a boss
formal: the birthday song, cards
polite: most people
casual: close friends
생일 축하해요 means 'happy birthday': 생일 (birthday) plus 축하해요, the polite form of 축하하다 (to congratulate). Say it to friends, classmates and colleagues on their birthday, in person or in a message. The birthday song uses the formal 생일 축하합니다.
Which one to use
To a grandparent or a boss, 생일 축하드립니다 adds humility. With friends, the casual 생일 축하해 is normal; with most adults, keep 생일 축하해요.
How to pronounce 생일 축하해요
생일 축하해요Sound rule
Read it as saeng-il chu-kha-hae-yo (saengil chukhahaeyo). The ㄱ of 축 and the ㅎ of 하 merge into a breathy k, so 축하 sounds like 추카.
생일 축하해요 letter by letter
How to write 생일 축하해요 stroke by stroke
Write 생일 축하해요 one block at a time: 생, 일, 축, 하, 해, 요. Inside every block go from the first consonant to the vowel and then the final consonant, following the numbered strokes.
Trace saeng 생 with a finger, mouse or pen: start at the numbered dot, follow the dotted arrow, and press Clear to try again.
Print style 정자체
Follow the numbers and dotted arrows
Handwriting 필기체
Same stroke order as print style
Trace il 일 with a finger, mouse or pen: start at the numbered dot, follow the dotted arrow, and press Clear to try again.
Print style 정자체
Follow the numbers and dotted arrows
Handwriting 필기체
Same stroke order as print style
Trace chuk 축 with a finger, mouse or pen: start at the numbered dot, follow the dotted arrow, and press Clear to try again.
Print style 정자체
Follow the numbers and dotted arrows
Handwriting 필기체
Same stroke order as print style
Trace ha 하 with a finger, mouse or pen: start at the numbered dot, follow the dotted arrow, and press Clear to try again.
Print style 정자체
Follow the numbers and dotted arrows
Handwriting 필기체
Same stroke order as print style
Trace hae 해 with a finger, mouse or pen: start at the numbered dot, follow the dotted arrow, and press Clear to try again.
Print style 정자체
Follow the numbers and dotted arrows
Handwriting 필기체
Same stroke order as print style
Trace yo 요 with a finger, mouse or pen: start at the numbered dot, follow the dotted arrow, and press Clear to try again.
Print style 정자체
Follow the numbers and dotted arrows
Handwriting 필기체
Same stroke order as print style
When to say 생일 축하해요
생일 축하해요 in example sentences
| Korean | English |
|---|---|
| 생일 축하해! 선물이야. | Happy birthday! This is a present for you. |
| 할머니, 생신 축하드려요. | Grandma, happy birthday. |
| 생일 축하해요. 좋은 하루 보내세요. | Happy birthday. Have a great day. |
| Korean | English |
|---|---|
| 생일 축하해요. / 고마워요. | A: Happy birthday. / B: Thank you. |
| 생일을 맞은 지수에게 우리는 생일 축하 인사가 담긴 카드를 주었다. | We gave Jisu, whose birthday it was, a card with birthday wishes. |
생일 축하해요 in a short conversation
| Who | Korean | English |
|---|---|---|
| A | 오늘 생일이지? 생일 축하해! | It is your birthday today, right? Happy birthday! |
| B | 고마워! | Thanks! |
More ways to say happy birthday in Korean
A common mistake with 생일 축하해요
Learners translate 'happy birthday' as 행복한 생일. Korean uses congratulate: 생일 축하해요.
Culture note
Seaweed soup (미역국) is the traditional birthday breakfast in Korea.
How to practice
Sing the birthday song slowly to learn the formal form: 생일 축하합니다 twice, then 사랑하는 (name) and 생일 축하합니다 again.
생일 축하해요 writing worksheet (free printable)
Worksheet · Level 3 · Phrases
Korean phrase tracing worksheet: 생일 축하해요 (happy birthday)
One A4 page for 생일 축하해요: trace its 6 blocks (32 strokes), write other ways to say it, read three sentences and find 생.
- 1 page
- A4 · US Letter
- PDF · 108 KB
- Free · no sign-up
Want more? See all korean phrases
Worksheet information
- How to use
- Say 생일 축하해요 out loud, trace each block from dark to faint, then write it on the line.
Use of the worksheet:
© KoreanSheets.com · Free to print and share at home and in class. No commercial use — don’t sell it, add it to paid products or post it on other websites. The QR code on the sheet opens this page to listen and trace on screen.
What to learn next
Happy birthday in Korean — FAQ
How do you say happy birthday in Korean?
생일 축하해요 (saengil chukhahaeyo) is the polite happy birthday; 생일 축하해 is casual and 생일 축하합니다 is formal.
What do Koreans eat on their birthday?
미역국 (seaweed soup) is the traditional birthday dish, often eaten in the morning.
How do you write happy birthday in Korean?
생일 축하해요 — two words: 생일 (birthday) and 축하해요 (congratulations, polite).
What is 생신?
생신 is the respectful word for birthday, used for parents, grandparents and other elders: 생신 축하드립니다.
How do you say happy belated birthday in Korean?
늦었지만 생일 축하해요 — "It is late, but happy birthday."
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