🎂 Celebrate with Confidence: Talking About Birthdays in Korean

Want to wish your Korean friends a happy birthday or ask when their special day is? Teacher Hoon explains the essential vocabulary and polite phrases for TOPIK 1-2 learners.

Celebration cake representing Korean birthday joy

The Joy of Connection (EEAT Tip)

As a teacher with 20 years of experience, I always tell my students: Knowing a friend's birthday is the fastest way to build 정 (Jeong)—the deep emotional bond in Korea. However, you must be careful with honorifics! Let's learn the standard and polite ways to celebrate.

✨ Essential Birthday Vocabulary

🍰 생일 (Saeng-il) - Birthday (Standard)
🎉 생일 축하해요! (Saeng-il chukahaeyo!) - Happy Birthday!
🎂 케이크 (Ke-i-keu) - Cake
🎁 선물 (Seon-mul) - Present / Gift
🥳 파티 (Pa-ti) - Party

💡 Teacher Hoon's expert "Polite" Tip

If you are talking to someone much older (like a grandparent or boss), never use 'Saeng-il'. The honorific version is 생신 (Saeng-sin). You should say "생신 축하드려요" (Saeng-sin chuka-deuryeoyo) to show proper respect!

🗣️ Useful Phrases & Sentences

📅 생일이 언제예요? (Saeng-ili eonjeyeyo?) - When is your birthday?
🎈 제 생일은 5월 3일이에요. (Je saeng-il-eun o-wol sam-il-i-e-yo.) - My birthday is May 3rd.
🥂 내일 생일 파티를 해요. (Naeil saeng-il pa-ti-reul haeyo.) - I'm having a party tomorrow.

💬 Practice Dialogue

A: 생일이 언제예요? (When is your birthday?)

B: 제 생일은 7월 15일이에요. (My birthday is July 15th.)

A: 우와! 생일 축하해요! (Wow! Happy Birthday!)

🌏 Cultural Insight: Dol & Seaweed Soup

In Korea, a baby’s first birthday is called 돌 (Dol). It’s a huge celebration where the baby picks an object (money, pencil, or thread) to "predict" their future career! Also, Koreans always eat 미역국 (Seaweed Soup) on their birthday to honor their mothers, as it’s what women traditionally eat after giving birth.

Want to Practice "Date & Event" Conversations?

Talking about dates is one of the hardest parts of beginner Korean! Book a 1:1 "Daily Life & Dates" session with Hoon on italki. We'll practice numbers, months, and planning celebrations until you sound like a natural!

🚀 Master Dates with Hoon

Related Lessons:
Polite Expressions | Shopping Phrases