生日快乐: the words
| Characters | Pinyin | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 生日 | shēngrì | birthday (生 born + 日 day) |
| 快乐 (快樂) | kuàilè | happy, joyful |
- Tones: first, fourth, fourth, fourth: shēng rì kuài lè.
- Pronunciation: the pinyin r in 日 is close to the "r" in "rude", with the tongue curled back a little; it is not rolled. See what is pinyin.
- Written: usually with an exclamation mark, 生日快乐！
Fuller wishes
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| 祝你生日快乐！ | zhù nǐ shēngrì kuàilè! | Wishing you a happy birthday! | The standard full wish |
| 祝您生日快乐！ | zhù nín shēngrì kuàilè! | (polite) | To an older person, a teacher, a boss |
| 生日快乐，天天开心！ | shēngrì kuàilè, tiāntiān kāixīn! | Happy birthday, be happy every day! | Friends, in a message |
| 祝你心想事成！ | zhù nǐ xīn xiǎng shì chéng! | May all your wishes come true! | Cards and toasts |
| 祝你身体健康！ | zhù nǐ shēntǐ jiànkāng! | Wishing you good health! | Especially to older relatives |
| 生日快乐，万事如意！ | shēngrì kuàilè, wànshì rúyì! | Happy birthday, may everything go your way! | Cards, formal |
| 福如东海，寿比南山 | fú rú dōng hǎi, shòu bǐ nán shān | Fortune as vast as the East Sea, a life as long as the Southern Mountain | A traditional wish for elders’ birthdays |
祝 (zhù) means "to wish" someone something, and it goes in front: 祝你 + the wish. It is the same word used in New Year and wedding wishes.
The birthday song
The Chinese birthday song uses the same tune as "Happy Birthday to You". Its words are simply 祝你生日快乐 (zhù nǐ shēngrì kuàilè), sung four times:
- 祝你生日快乐，祝你生日快乐……
Afterwards, the birthday person makes a wish (许愿, xǔyuàn) and blows out the candles, just as in the West.
Birthday customs
- Longevity noodles (长寿面, 長壽麵, chángshòu miàn). Long noodles, eaten on birthdays for a long life. Traditionally you try not to bite them short.
- Red eggs and peaches. Eggs dyed red, and peach-shaped buns (寿桃, shòutáo), are traditional for older people’s birthdays and a baby’s first month.
- Big birthdays for elders. Round-number birthdays of older relatives, such as the 60th or 80th, are celebrated with a family banquet.
- Cake. A cream cake with candles is now standard for everyday birthdays, especially among younger people.
Asking and saying ages
How you ask someone’s age depends on who they are:
| Chinese | Pinyin | Ask … |
|---|---|---|
| 你几岁了？ (你幾歲了？) | nǐ jǐ suì le? | A child (under about ten) |
| 你多大了？ | nǐ duō dà le? | Someone your own age or younger |
| 您多大年纪了？ (您多大年紀了？) | nín duō dà niánjì le? | An older person, politely |
To answer, use a number and 岁 (歲, suì, years old): 我二十五岁。 (wǒ èrshíwǔ suì, I’m 25.) 几 ★ (how many), 多 ★ (how), and 年 ★ (year) are course words.
Example sentences
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 今天是我的生日。 | Jīntiān shì wǒ de shēngrì. | Today is my birthday. |
| 你的生日是几月几号？ | Nǐ de shēngrì shì jǐ yuè jǐ hào? | When is your birthday? (which month, which day) |
| 我的生日是五月二十号。 | Wǒ de shēngrì shì wǔ yuè èrshí hào. | My birthday is May 20. |
| 祝你生日快乐，这是给你的礼物！ | Zhù nǐ shēngrì kuàilè, zhè shì gěi nǐ de lǐwù! | Happy birthday, this present is for you! |
| 妈妈，生日快乐！我爱你！ | Māma, shēngrì kuàilè! Wǒ ài nǐ! | Happy birthday, Mom! I love you! |
How to reply
- 生日快乐！ → 谢谢！ (xièxie, thank you) or 谢谢你还记得！ (thanks for remembering!)
- 祝您生日快乐！ → 谢谢，谢谢！ Repeating 谢谢 sounds warm and a little modest.
More ways to answer are on thank you in Chinese.
Common mistakes
- Word order. It is 生日快乐 (birthday happy), not 快乐生日.
- Putting 祝 at the end. The wish verb comes first: 祝你……, never ……祝你.
- Asking an adult 你几岁了. It is how you ask a child; with adults it sounds odd or even rude. Use 你多大了, or with an older person, 您多大年纪了.
- Pronouncing 日 like "ree". The pinyin r is closer to the English r in "rude" than to a vowel.