Chinese phrases for birthday wishes

How do you say happy birthday in Chinese?

生日快乐 (shēngrì kuàilè), or 祝你生日快乐 (zhù nǐ shēngrì kuàilè), “happy birthday to you”, which is also how the birthday song goes in Chinese, to the same tune. For an older person, add a wish for health: 祝你身体健康.

What do Chinese people eat on their birthday?

Long-life noodles (长寿面, chángshòu miàn), one long noodle eaten without biting it through, for a long life; often red-dyed eggs too. Birthday cake is as common as anywhere. Older people’s birthdays may have peach-shaped buns (寿桃, shòutáo), the peach being a sign of long life.

How do I say them right?

Press Play and say each phrase with the voice, slow first, then at normal speed. Each word’s pinyin is above it, its tone marked.

Can’t hear it?

Play uses your device’s Mandarin voice. Edge, Chrome and Safari have one; on other browsers, add Chinese speech in your system’s language settings.

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