New here? This is lesson 145 of a free 240-lesson Traditional Chinese course.
A birthday at the shop in Traditional Chinese
At Banyan Breakfast, a cake appears with one candle, but Auntie Lin has no idea anyone planned a party for her. A-Li watches from his usual table.
Maya gives Lin a small gift, wishes her well, and invites everyone to sing. The celebration is simple, warm, and a little surprising.
Practice birthday wishes, gift-giving, inviting someone to make a wish, and praising the cake. Listen for light tones in the short party phrases.
By the end of this lesson
Wish someone a happy birthday, give them a small gift, offer a wish, and join a simple celebration.
- 生日快樂Happy birthday.
- 這是給你的This is for you.
- 祝你天天開心Wishing you happiness every day.
- 許個願吧Make a wish.
- 我們來唱生日歌Let's sing happy birthday.
- 蛋糕很好吃The cake is delicious.
Scene — a surprise at breakfast
At Banyan Breakfast in Da'an, Auntie Lin is serving the morning crowd when a cake arrives. It has exactly one candle, and nobody has told her about the party.
Maya has brought a small gift. A-Li sits nearby on his two stools with his soy milk still unfinished; the fortune slip remains tucked away in the till.
Learn — birthday wishes and gifts
Learn six useful lines for a birthday at a neighborhood shop. Give a small gift, offer a wish, and join the singing.
Notice how a short word introduces who receives a gift. Say each phrase aloud, then use it to keep Auntie Lin's surprise celebration moving.
生日快樂
Happy birthday.
When to use it: Use this greeting to celebrate someone's birthday.
Use this fixed birthday greeting as one complete chunk.
這是給你的
This is for you.
When to use it: Say this when handing someone a gift or another item.
給 marks the person who receives the gift; 的 closes the phrase.
祝你天天開心
Wishing you happiness every day.
When to use it: Use this warm wish for a birthday or another happy occasion.
祝 starts a wish, and 你 names the person you are wishing well.
許個願吧
Make a wish.
When to use it: Say this when inviting someone to make a wish, often before blowing out candles.
個 is the measure word used with one wish; 吧 softens the suggestion.
Say it: 個 and 吧 are usually light and neutral here.
我們來唱生日歌
Let's sing happy birthday.
When to use it: Use this to invite people to sing the birthday song together.
來 before an action invites people to do it together now.
蛋糕很好吃
The cake is delicious.
When to use it: Say this to compliment the taste of the cake.
很 often connects a subject with an adjective and makes the sentence sound complete.
Story — one candle on the cake
A cake arrives at Banyan Breakfast with one candle. Auntie Lin is surprised because nobody told her a birthday party was planned.
Maya has brought a small gift. A-Li joins the celebration from his usual table, where his soy milk remains unfinished.
Auntie Lin美女，今天怎麼這麼熱鬧？Beautiful, why is it so lively today?
Maya今天是你的生日，我們來幫你慶祝！Today is your birthday, and we're here to celebrate with you!
A-Li蛋糕來了，只有一根蠟燭欸。The cake is here, and there is only one candle.- Maya生日快樂！Happy birthday!
- Maya這是給你的。This is for you.
- Auntie Lin謝謝你們！Thank you all!
- Maya祝你天天開心！Wishing you happiness every day!
- Maya許個願吧。Make a wish.
- Auntie Lin好喔，我來許願。Okay, I'll make a wish.
- Maya我們來唱生日歌。Let's sing happy birthday.
- Auntie Lin蛋糕很好吃。The cake is delicious.
- A-Li我的豆漿還沒喝完。I still haven't finished my soy milk.
Practice — celebrate Auntie Lin
Try nine exercises about birthday greetings, gifts, wishes, and cake. Choose a phrase that fits each moment at the shop.
Build a wish from word tiles, fill a missing word, and listen for the invitation to sing. Then answer naturally.
0 of 9 done
What does it mean?
What does it mean?
生日快樂
What do you say?
What do you say?
Hand Auntie Lin the small gift you brought for her birthday.
Build the line
Build the line
Wishing you happiness every day.
Tap the words in order.
Fill the gap
Fill the gap
Make a wish.
許個____吧
What did you hear?
What did you hear?
Pick the reply
Auntie Lin says:
Pick the reply
蛋糕好吃嗎？
Is the cake good?
And you reply with:
What does it mean?
What does it mean?
你好
Build the line
Build the line
This is for you.
Tap the words in order.
What do you say?
What do you say?
Someone gives you a small birthday gift. Thank them.
Say it — your birthday wishes
You are Maya at Auntie Lin's birthday surprise in Banyan Breakfast. Listen to each cue, then say the birthday phrase that fits.
Speak clearly and keep the wishes warm. A-Li is nearby, and his soy milk is still waiting for him.
- The cake arrives, and Maya sees Auntie Lin looking surprised.
- Maya (you)Wish Auntie Lin a happy birthday.
Wish Auntie Lin a happy birthday.
生日快樂
Happy birthday.
0 of 6 said
Recap — what you can say now
| Traditional Chinese | English | Play |
|---|---|---|
| 生日快樂 | Happy birthday. | |
| 這是給你的 | This is for you. | |
| 祝你天天開心 | Wishing you happiness every day. | |
| 許個願吧 | Make a wish. | |
| 我們來唱生日歌 | Let's sing happy birthday. | |
| 蛋糕很好吃 | The cake is delicious. |
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Keep practicing with Yak Cards
Birthday wishes and gift-giving phrases are in Yak Cards.
Review these short birthday lines so you can use them naturally at a celebration.
Open Yak Cards