Birthday and congratulations

The basic phrase is 생일 축하해요 (saengil chukahaeyo), 'Happy birthday.' To a close friend, say 생일 축하해 (saengil chukahae); for extra politeness, 생일 축하드려요 (saengil chukadeuryeoyo). The same phrases work in text messages, and adding an emoji makes them feel warmer.

Yes. Koreans sing Korean lyrics to the same tune as 'Happy Birthday to You.' Candles go on the cake, and after the song the birthday person makes a wish and blows them out. Friends usually clap along while singing. If you don't know the words yet, clapping along is a perfectly good way to join in.

Say 축하해요 (chukahaeyo), or more formally 축하드립니다 (chukadeurimnida). Put the occasion in front, as in 합격 축하해요 (hapgyeok chukahaeyo), 'Congrats on passing,' or 결혼 축하드립니다 (gyeolhon chukadeurimnida), 'Congratulations on your wedding.' Friends just say 축하해! (chukahae!). Adding 정말 (jeongmal), 'really,' makes it warmer.

The standard phrase is 결혼 축하드려요 (gyeolhon chukadeuryeoyo), 'Congratulations on your marriage.' Add 행복하게 사세요 (haengbokage saseyo), 'Live happily,' for a warm touch. These two lines are enough for greeting the couple at a wedding. With a close friend, 결혼 축하해, 행복해! (gyeolhon chukahae, haengbokae!) works well.

Say 합격 축하해요 (hapgyeok chukahaeyo), 'Congratulations on passing.' To recognize their effort, add 그동안 고생 많았어요 (geudongan gosaeng manasseoyo), 'You worked so hard.' For a new job, say 취업 축하해요 (chwieop chukahaeyo). Koreans often praise the hard work behind a result, not just the result itself.

미역국 (miyeokguk), seaweed soup, is traditionally eaten on birthday mornings. The custom is passed down alongside new mothers eating it after giving birth, and it is sometimes explained as thanks to one's mother, though its exact origin is unclear. 미역국 먹었어? (miyeokguk meogeosseo?) can hint at someone's birthday. Some avoid it on exam days because of a superstition about 'slipping.'

For an older person, use the honorific 생신 (saengsin) instead of 생일 (saengil). So you would say 할머니 생신 축하드려요 (halmeoni saengsin chukadeuryeoyo), 'Happy birthday, Grandma.' Likewise, age becomes 연세 (yeonse) instead of 나이 (nai). Swapping in special words like this is a key part of Korean honorifics.

돌 (dol) is a baby's first birthday. Families often hold a 돌잔치 (doljanchi), a first-birthday party, which may include 돌잡이 (doljabi), where the baby picks one of several objects as a playful prediction of their future. If invited, say 돌 축하드려요 (dol chukadeuryeoyo). Many families now keep it small and private.

환갑 (hwangap) marks 60 full years since birth, and 칠순 (chilsun) means age seventy, traditionally celebrated at 70 in the old age-counting system. In the past, families held big parties to celebrate long life; today many choose a family trip or meal instead. A fitting greeting is 건강하게 오래오래 사세요 (geonganghage oraeorae saseyo), 'Please live a long, healthy life.' Timing can vary by family.

Say 졸업 축하해요 (joreop chukahaeyo), 'Congratulations on graduating.' Add 앞으로도 응원할게요 (apeurodo eungwonhalgeyo), 'I'll keep cheering you on,' for encouragement. At Korean graduation ceremonies, giving flowers and taking photos together is common. To a friend, say 졸업 축하해, 수고했어! (joreop chukahae, sugohaesseo!).

Say 승진 축하드립니다 (seungjin chukadeurimnida), 'Congratulations on your promotion.' At work, keep it polite and formal. Adding 앞으로 더 잘되실 거예요 (apeuro deo jaldoesil geoyeyo), 'Even better things are ahead,' sounds warm. Calling them by their new title right away is a nice touch they will appreciate.

Say 출산 축하드려요 (chulsan chukadeuryeoyo), 'Congratulations on the birth.' People often add 몸조리 잘하세요 (momjori jalhaseyo), 'Take good care of yourself while you recover,' since 몸조리 means postpartum recovery. For the baby, a warm wish is 건강하게 자라렴 (geonganghage jararyeom), 'Grow up healthy.'

A popular closing is 앞으로 좋은 일만 가득하길 바라요 (apeuro joeun ilman gadeukagil barayo), 'Wishing you nothing but good things ahead.' 늘 행복하세요 (neul haengbokaseyo), 'Always be happy,' also works. Both fit birthdays, weddings or any new start. In a card, sign your name at the end.

Say 건강하세요 (geonganghaseyo), 'Stay healthy,' or 늘 건강하세요 (neul geonganghaseyo), 'Always stay healthy.' These suit an elder's birthday or New Year greetings especially well. A very formal option is 만수무강하세요 (mansumuganghaseyo), 'Live long without illness,' though it sounds old-fashioned. A short, sincere wish is enough.

Reply 감사해요 (gamsahaeyo) or 고마워요 (gomawoyo), 'Thank you.' A more formal response is 축하해 주셔서 감사합니다 (chukahae jusyeoseo gamsahamnida), 'Thank you for congratulating me.' With friends, a quick 고마워! (gomawo!) is enough. What matters is thanking them for sharing your happiness.

Hand it over with both hands and say 작은 선물이에요 (jageun seonmurieyo), 'It's just a small gift.' Koreans often describe gifts modestly as 'small,' even when they aren't. The receiver may reply 뭘 이런 걸 다… (mwol ireon geol da…), roughly 'Oh, you didn't have to…' Whether to open it right away depends on the situation.

After the birthday song, friends say 소원 빌어! (sowon bireo!), 'Make a wish!' The birthday person closes their eyes, makes a wish and blows out the candles. The polite form is 소원 비세요 (sowon biseyo). Then everyone claps and cheers 축하해! (chukahae!), 'Congratulations!'

With a close friend, say 축하해! (chukahae!) in casual speech. To sound extra excited, add an exclamation like 대박, 축하해! (daebak, chukahae!), 'Wow, congrats!' In texts, people sometimes shorten it to ㅊㅋㅊㅋ, but for big news it's better to write it out. A sincere word means the most.

Ask 생일이 언제예요? (saengiri eonjeyeyo?), 'When is your birthday?' For an elder, say 생신이 언제세요? (saengsini eonjeseyo?). Some Koreans celebrate their lunar-calendar birthday, so you may hear 양력이에요, 음력이에요? (yangnyeogieyo, eumnyeogieyo?), 'Solar or lunar calendar?' Knowing the date in advance makes it easy to prepare a message or small gift.

축의금 (chugeuigeum) is money given as a congratulatory gift at weddings and other happy occasions. It goes in an envelope handed in at the reception desk, often marked 祝 結婚 (chuk gyeolhon), 'Congratulations on your wedding.' Appropriate amounts depend on your relationship, so ask someone close. Money given at funerals is called 조의금 (joeuigeum).