When And How Mandarin Speakers Say It
The core birthday wish is 生日快樂. A fuller, slightly warmer version is 祝你生日快樂, which literally means “wish you a happy birthday.” In Taiwan and many overseas communities, both are natural in speech, on cards, in texts, and when the cake arrives. For elders or formal settings, traditional blessings such as 福如東海、壽比南山 add respect and a celebratory flourish. In casual chats and social posts, particles like 喔、呀、啦 soften the tone without changing the meaning.
Core Phrases You’ll Use Everywhere
生日快樂。
Shēngrì kuàilè.
Happy birthday.
祝你生日快樂。
Zhù nǐ shēngrì kuàilè.
Wishing you a happy birthday.
生日快樂喔！
Shēngrì kuàilè ō!
Happy birthday! (friendly, gentle)
生日快樂呀！
Shēngrì kuàilè ya!
Happy birthday! (light, cheerful)
祝妳生日快樂、永遠美麗。
Zhù nǐ shēngrì kuàilè, yǒngyuǎn měilì.
Happy birthday—may you always be beautiful.
（妳 is a feminine “you” used by many writers in Taiwan when addressing women.）
祝你天天開心、平安健康。
Zhù nǐ tiāntiān kāixīn, píng’ān jiànkāng.
Wishing you daily joy, peace, and health.
福如東海，壽比南山。
Fú rú dōnghǎi, shòu bǐ nánshān.
May your blessings be as vast as the Eastern Sea and your longevity as the Southern Mountain.
（Classic line for elders or formal toasts.）
年年有今日，歲歲有今朝。
Niánnián yǒu jīnrì, suìsuì yǒu jīnzhāo.
May this day return year after year.
（Festive, fits MC lines, captions, and cards.）
The Birthday Song In Traditional Chinese
Melody: the same “Happy Birthday to You.” Each line matches one bar of the familiar tune.
祝你生日快樂
Zhù nǐ shēngrì kuàilè
祝你生日快樂
Zhù nǐ shēngrì kuàilè
祝你生日快樂
Zhù nǐ shēngrì kuàilè
祝你永遠快樂
Zhù nǐ yǒngyuǎn kuàilè
(Wish you happiness forever)
Name-insert version for the third line (very common at parties):
祝［小明］生日快樂
Zhù [Xiǎomíng] shēngrì kuàilè
Taiwan party variant (keeps energy high on the last line):
祝你幸福快樂
Zhù nǐ xìngfú kuàilè
(Wish you happiness and joy)
How To Write It On A Card Or Red Envelope
Card, neutral warm
親愛的［名字］：生日快樂！願你平安健康、心想事成。
Qīn’ài de [míngzì]: shēngrì kuàilè! Yuàn nǐ píng’ān jiànkāng, xīnxiǎng-shì-chéng.
Card, to an elder
敬愛的［王伯伯］：祝您福如東海、壽比南山，生日快樂！
Jìng’ài de [Wáng bóbo]: zhù nín fú rú dōnghǎi, shòu bǐ nánshān, shēngrì kuàilè!
Red envelope short lines
生日快樂、學業進步
Shēngrì kuàilè, xuéyè jìnbù.
Happy birthday—progress in your studies.
生日快樂、事業順利
Shēngrì kuàilè, shìyè shùnlì.
Happy birthday—success at work.
Toasts, MC Openings, And Cake Moments
MC opening to a room
各位朋友，今天是［名字］的生日，讓我們一起祝他生日快樂！
Gèwèi péngyǒu, jīntiān shì [míngzì] de shēngrì, ràng wǒmen yìqǐ zhù tā shēngrì kuàilè!
Short toast
為［名字］的生日，乾杯！
Wèi [míngzì] de shēngrì, gānbēi!
To [Name]’s birthday—cheers!
After candles
許個願吧！
Xǔ ge yuàn ba!
Make a wish!
切蛋糕囉！
Qiē dàngāo luō!
Time to cut the cake!
Replies To Birthday Wishes
謝謝大家的祝福！
Xièxie dàjiā de zhùfú!
Thank you all for the birthday wishes!
有你們真好。
Yǒu nǐmen zhēn hǎo.
It’s so good to have you.
收到滿滿的愛與蛋糕，感恩。
Shōudào mǎnmǎn de ài yǔ dàngāo, gǎn’ēn.
Feeling the love (and cake). Grateful.
謝謝，祝大家也平安順心。
Xièxie, zhù dàjiā yě píng’ān shùnxīn.
Thanks—wishing everyone peace and ease.
Social Media Captions That Sound Native
今天升級了一歲，謝謝大家的陪伴。
Jīntiān shēngjí le yí suì, xièxie dàjiā de péibàn.
Leveled up by one year—thanks for being there.
生日快樂給自己：保持熱情，保持好奇。
Shēngrì kuàilè gěi zìjǐ: bǎochí rèqíng, bǎochí hàoqí.
Happy birthday to me: stay passionate, stay curious.
年年有今日，蛋糕要越切越大！
Niánnián yǒu jīnrì, dàngāo yào yuè qiē yuè dà!
May this day return every year—and the cake keep getting bigger!
Politeness, Titles, And Small Words That Shift Tone
Switching 你 → 您 adds respect for elders or formal relations: 祝您生日快樂.
Particles tune the vibe without changing content:
生日快樂喔（ō）＝ softer; 生日快樂呀（ya）＝ cheerful; 生日快樂啦（la）＝ casual wrap-up.
Add titles for dignity: 校長生日快樂（Xiàozhǎng shēngrì kuàilè）、老師生日快樂（Lǎoshī shēngrì kuàilè）。
Dialogues For Real Situations
At a party
A：生日快樂！許個願吧。
A: Shēngrì kuàilè! Xǔ ge yuàn ba.
B：謝謝，大家一起吃蛋糕！
B: Xièxie, dàjiā yìqǐ chī dàngāo!
At the office
A：祝你生日快樂，這是小蛋糕。
A: Zhù nǐ shēngrì kuàilè, zhè shì xiǎo dàngāo.
B：太貼心了，謝謝你！
B: Tài tiēxīn le, xièxie nǐ!
Text message
A：生日快樂喔～心想事成！
A: Shēngrì kuàilè ō~ xīnxiǎng-shì-chéng!
B：收到祝福，明年一起旅行！
B: Shōudào zhùfú, míngnián yìqǐ lǚxíng!
To an elder
A：阿公，祝您福壽綿長、生日快樂。
A: Āgōng, zhù nín fúshòu miáncháng, shēngrì kuàilè.
B：謝謝，大家吃好、身體健康。
B: Xièxie, dàjiā chī hǎo, shēntǐ jiànkāng.
Vocabulary You’ll Meet Around Birthdays
慶生
Qìngshēng
Celebrate a birthday
生日願望 / 許願
Shēngrì yuànwàng / xǔyuàn
Birthday wish / make a wish
蠟燭
Làzhú
Candle
蛋糕
Dàngāo
Cake
紅包
Hóngbāo
Red envelope (cash gift)
禮物
Lǐwù
Gift
蛋糕店 / 蛋糕預購
Dàngāodiàn / dàngāo yùgòu
Bakery / pre-order cake
Practice Drills（Copy-Ready）
Swap the name
祝［小芸］生日快樂，年年都精彩。
Zhù [Xiǎoyún] shēngrì kuàilè, niánnián dōu jīngcǎi.
Upgrade the blessing
生日快樂，平安健康、事事順心、心想事成。
Shēngrì kuàilè, píng’ān jiànkāng, shìshì shùnxīn, xīnxiǎng-shì-chéng.
MC line to cue the song
來，我們一起唱：祝你生日快樂！
Lái, wǒmen yìqǐ chàng: zhù nǐ shēngrì kuàilè!
Reply to a group chat
謝謝大家的祝福，有你們真好。
Xièxie dàjiā de zhùfú, yǒu nǐmen zhēn hǎo.
Card closer
永遠保持笑容，生日快樂。
Yǒngyuǎn bǎochí xiàoróng, shēngrì kuàilè.
Quick Reference Table
| Purpose | Traditional Chinese | Pinyin | Notes |
| Happy birthday (neutral) | 生日快樂 | Shēngrì kuàilè | Universal; speech, cards, posts |
| Wish you a happy birthday | 祝你生日快樂 | Zhù nǐ shēngrì kuàilè | Slightly warmer, very common |
| Formal to elder | 祝您生日快樂 | Zhù nín shēngrì kuàilè | Respectful 您 |
| Classical blessing | 福如東海、壽比南山 | Fú rú dōnghǎi, shòu bǐ nánshān | For elders, toasts |
| Make a wish | 許願 | Xǔ yuàn | Said at the candles |
| Celebrate a birthday | 慶生 | Qìngshēng | Taiwan/common usage |
| Thanking for wishes | 謝謝大家的祝福 | Xièxie dàjiā de zhùfú | Natural reply |
| Social sign-off | 年年有今日，歲歲有今朝 | Niánnián yǒu jīnrì, suìsuì yǒu jīnzhāo | Festive closer |
Candlelight Closer, Yak-Style
One phrase lights the candles, another sends the wish into the air. Keep 生日快樂 and 祝你生日快樂 ready, dress them up for elders with 福壽雙全-style lines, and let your replies carry gratitude without fuss—謝謝大家的祝福，有你們真好. With that, the song sings itself, the cake cuts clean, and the language feels as sweet as the frosting.