How to Say Happy Birthday in Chinese
Beginner PhrasesThe most common way to say happy birthday in Chinese is 生日快乐 (shēngrì kuàilè). It literally combines 生日 (shēngrì, "birthday") and 快乐 (kuàilè, "happy"), and it works for friends, family, coworkers, and children alike. To turn it into a wish, add 祝你 (zhù nǐ, "I wish you") at the front: 祝你生日快乐 (zhù nǐ shēngrì kuàilè).
What are the core birthday phrases?
Formal vs. casual
Chinese does not change the birthday phrase much for politeness, but you can adjust the pronoun. Use 你 (nǐ, "you") for friends and family, and the respectful 您 (nín) for elders, teachers, or bosses: 祝您生日快乐 (zhù nín shēngrì kuàilè). Among close friends, simply calling out 生日快乐！on its own is completely natural.
How do you sing Happy Birthday in Chinese?
Good news: the tune is identical to the English song. You just repeat one line four times to match the melody:
祝你生日快乐，祝你生日快乐，祝你生日快乐，祝你生日快乐！
Happy birthday to you (×4)
Useful birthday vocabulary
Warmer wishes for elders
For grandparents and older relatives, longevity wishes carry more warmth than a plain "happy birthday":
祝您福如东海，寿比南山！
May your happiness be as vast as the Eastern Sea, and your life as long as the Southern Mountains! (A classic longevity blessing.)
祝您生日快乐，身体健康，长命百岁！
Happy birthday — good health, and may you live to a hundred!
A cultural note
In many Chinese families, birthdays are celebrated with 长寿面 (chángshòu miàn, "longevity noodles") — extra-long noodles you try not to bite, symbolizing a long life. Some traditions still count a birthday by the lunar calendar (农历, nónglì) rather than the Western date, so an older relative may celebrate on a different day each year.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you say happy birthday in Chinese?
Say 生日快乐 (shēngrì kuàilè). Add 祝你 in front — 祝你生日快乐 (zhù nǐ shēngrì kuàilè) — to phrase it as a wish.
How do you sing Happy Birthday in Chinese?
Use the same melody as in English and repeat 祝你生日快乐 (zhù nǐ shēngrì kuàilè) four times.
How do you wish an elderly person happy birthday?
Add longevity wishes like 长命百岁 (chángmìng bǎisuì, "live to a hundred") or 身体健康 (shēntǐ jiànkāng, "good health").
What is happy birthday in Traditional Chinese?
It is written 生日快樂 and pronounced the same, shēngrì kuàilè.
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