You can say “happy birthday” in Korean in a few key ways, depending on how polite or close you are to the person.

Most useful phrases

  • Formal / polite (safe in most situations)
    • 생일 축하합니다
      • Pronunciation: saeng-il chu-ka-ham-ni-da
      • Use for teachers, your boss, people you aren’t close to, or in a card.
  • Polite but friendly (very common)
    • 생일 축하해요
      • Pronunciation: saeng-il chu-ka-hae-yo
      • Use for acquaintances, coworkers, or people a bit older than you.
  • Casual (close friends / younger people)
    • 생일 축하해
      • Pronunciation: saeng-il chu-ka-hae
      • Use for close friends, siblings, or someone younger.
  • Very respectful (for much older people)
    • 생신을 축하드립니다
      • Pronunciation: saeng-sin-eul chu-ka-deu-rim-ni-da
      • Use for grandparents, very senior people; 생신 is the honorific form of “birthday.”

Tiny add‑on to sound sweeter

You can add this in front for “happy birthday to you”:

  • 생일 축하해요, 좋은 하루 보내!
    • “Happy birthday, have a great day!” (friendly polite)

If you tell me who you’re saying it to (age and relationship), I can give you a one‑line message tailored for that situation.