How do you say "Happy birthday!" in Chinese?

"Happy birthday!" in Chinese is 生日快乐！ — written in pinyin as Shēngrì kuàilè!. It is an everyday phrase you would use in China.

What does 生日快乐！ mean in Chinese?

生日快乐！ (Shēngrì kuàilè!) means "Happy birthday!". Broken down word by word: 生日 (shēngrì) means "birthday"; 快乐 (kuàilè) means "happy".

When would you use "Happy birthday!" in Chinese?

To anyone on their birthday — a friend, a colleague, someone at the next table. Very often written rather than spoken: on a card, on a red envelope, or in a chat message.

How to say “Happy birthday!” in Chinese

“Happy birthday!” in Chinese is 生日快乐！, written in pinyin as Shēngrì kuàilè!.

生日快乐！

Shēngrì kuàilè!

Happy birthday!

Word by word

What each part of 生日快乐！ actually means.

生日shēngrìbirthday
快乐kuàilèhappy

When you use it

To anyone on their birthday — a friend, a colleague, someone at the next table.
Very often written rather than spoken: on a card, on a red envelope, or in a chat message.

Use 生日快乐！ in everyday situations. Greetings, thanks and the small words you use all day.

Other ways people say it

The same idea, said differently. Roughly in the order you'll hear them.

祝你生日快乐！
Zhù nǐ shēngrì kuàilè!
Wishing you a happy birthday!
The fuller form. 祝 is the verb 'to wish', so this reads as a formal wish rather than a shout.
生日快乐，身体健康！
Shēngrì kuàilè, shēntǐ jiànkāng!
Happy birthday, and good health!
Common with older people, where a wish for health carries more weight than the birthday itself.
生日快乐啊！
Shēngrì kuàilè a!
Happy birthday!
The 啊 at the end makes it sound spoken and warm rather than read off a card.

What usually trips people up

生日快乐 is only for birthdays. The formula is occasion + 快乐: 新年快乐 (Happy New Year), 节日快乐 (happy holiday), 周末快乐 (have a good weekend). 快乐 always comes second.
It is said on the day, not in advance — there is no Chinese equivalent of 'many happy returns'.
The short version is the common one. Adding 祝你 makes it warmer in writing, not more correct in speech.

What you might hear back

谢谢！Xièxie!Thank you!
谢谢大家！Xièxie dàjiā!Thank you everyone!
谢谢，太客气了！Xièxie, tài kèqi le!Thanks — you're too kind!

Common questions

How do you say "Happy birthday!" in Chinese?: "Happy birthday!" in Chinese is 生日快乐！ — written in pinyin as Shēngrì kuàilè!. It is an everyday phrase you would use in China.
What does 生日快乐！ mean in Chinese?: 生日快乐！ (Shēngrì kuàilè!) means "Happy birthday!". Broken down word by word: 生日 (shēngrì) means "birthday"; 快乐 (kuàilè) means "happy".
When would you use "Happy birthday!" in Chinese?: To anyone on their birthday — a friend, a colleague, someone at the next table. Very often written rather than spoken: on a card, on a red envelope, or in a chat message.

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