How to say happy birthday in Chinese (Traditional)
生日快樂
Say it like this: shung-ZHUR kwy-LUH
To say happy birthday in Chinese, you say "生日快樂" (shēngrì kuàilè). Traditional characters are used in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau. Below you will find how to say it in Mandarin and Cantonese, other lovely wishes, and the song people sing.
"生日" (shēngrì) means birthday: "生" is birth and "日" is day. "快樂" (kuàilè) means happy. So it is a direct match for "happy birthday".
Other ways to say happy birthday in Chinese (Traditional)
- 祝你生日快樂 (zhù nǐ shēngrì kuàilè)Say it like this: joo nee shung-ZHUR kwy-LUHMeans "wishing you a happy birthday". The most common full version, for friends and family.
- 祝您生日快樂 (zhù nín shēngrì kuàilè)Say it like this: joo neen shung-ZHUR kwy-LUHThe polite form. "您" is a respectful "you", for elders, teachers and bosses.
- 生日快樂 (Cantonese: saang jat faai lok)Say it like this: sahng yut fye lockHow the same words sound in Cantonese, the main spoken language in Hong Kong and Macau.
- 心想事成 (xīn xiǎng shì chéng)Say it like this: shin shyahng shir chungMeans "may all your wishes come true". A popular extra line in cards.
- 長命百歲 (cháng mìng bǎi suì)Say it like this: chahng ming bye swayMeans "long life, a hundred years". Often said to children and elders.
- 福如東海，壽比南山 (fú rú dōng hǎi, shòu bǐ nán shān)Say it like this: foo roo dong HIGH, show bee nahn SHAHNMeans "luck as wide as the Eastern Sea, life as long as the Southern Mountain". A classic wish for an older person's birthday.
The Happy Birthday song in Chinese (Traditional)
祝你生日快樂，
祝你生日快樂，
祝你生日快樂，
祝你生日快樂。
This is sung to the usual Happy Birthday tune, with the same line four times. Some people put the name in the third line. In Hong Kong it is often sung in Cantonese, and the English version is common too.
Birthday customs
- In Taiwan and Hong Kong, people eat long noodles, called longevity noodles, on their birthday. The long strands stand for a long life, so you should try not to cut them.
- For an older person's birthday, families often serve peach-shaped buns. The peach is a traditional sign of long life in Chinese culture.
- In Taiwan and Hong Kong, a clock is not given as a gift. The phrase "giving a clock" sounds like a phrase linked to funerals.
- Some older people in Taiwan and Hong Kong also mark their birthday on the date in the lunar calendar, which changes each year.
A quick tip
Traditional and Simplified Chinese say the same words but write some characters differently. Here, "樂" is the Traditional form. For readers in Taiwan, Hong Kong or Macau, use "生日快樂". For mainland China, use "生日快乐".
Questions people ask
Is it the same in Mandarin and Cantonese?
The written words are the same, "生日快樂", but they sound different. Mandarin is shung-ZHUR kwy-LUH. Cantonese is roughly sahng yut fye lock.
How do you say it politely?
Say "祝您生日快樂" (joo neen shung-ZHUR kwy-LUH). "您" is the polite word for "you".
What do you say back?
In Mandarin, say "謝謝" (shyeh shyeh). In Cantonese, say "多謝" (daw jeh). Both mean thank you.
Wish someone happy birthday in Chinese (Traditional)
Type their name, and we will turn it into a birthday surprise in Chinese (Traditional): a gift box to open, confetti, their name in gold and the birthday song. Then send it by WhatsApp, text or email. It is free.