Birthday Wishes in Chinese: Expressing Best Wishes in Mandarin

Published: 21 Jun 2025

Birthday wishes in Chinese are a beautiful way to express your feelings for someone special. Chinese culture has a rich tradition of honoring birthdays, and offering your wishes in Mandarin can be a thoughtful and meaningful gesture. Whether you’re wishing a friend, family member, or colleague a happy birthday, there are many ways to express your sentiments in Chinese.

Here are several birthday messages in Chinese, along with their English translations, to help you celebrate someone’s special day.

Basic Birthday Wishes in Chinese

生日快乐 (Shēngrì kuàilè)
Translation: Happy Birthday!
This is the most common and simple way to say “Happy Birthday” in Mandarin. It’s appropriate for anyone you’re wishing a happy birthday to.
祝你生日快乐 (Zhù nǐ shēngrì kuàilè)
Translation: Wishing you a happy birthday.
A slightly more formal version of “Happy Birthday” but still widely used in casual and formal settings.

Wishing Good Health and Happiness

祝你身体健康，长命百岁 (Zhù nǐ shēntǐ jiànkāng, chángmìng bǎi suì)
Translation: Wishing you good health and a long life.
This is a thoughtful birthday wish that focuses on health and longevity, perfect for elders or anyone you want to wish well-being to.
祝你生活幸福，快乐无边 (Zhù nǐ shēnghuó xìngfú, kuàilè wú biān)
Translation: Wishing you a happy life and endless joy.
This is a warm and thoughtful message for someone you care deeply about, wishing them happiness that knows no bounds.

Table of Content

Basic Birthday Wishes in Chinese
Conclusion: Birthday Wishes in Chinese

Wishing for Success and Prosperity

祝你事业成功，万事如意 (Zhù nǐ shìyè chénggōng, wàn shì rú yì)
Translation: Wishing you success in your career and that everything goes as you wish.
This is a great birthday message for someone you want to wish success in their professional life.
祝你财源广进，前程似锦 (Zhù nǐ cáiyuán guǎng jìn, qiánchéng shì jǐn)
Translation: Wishing you wealth and a bright future.
This is a traditional and auspicious birthday wish, often used for friends, colleagues, or business partners.

Personalized Birthday Wishes

祝你生日快乐，天天开心 (Zhù nǐ shēngrì kuàilè, tiāntiān kāixīn)
Translation: Wishing you a happy birthday and happiness every day.
A more personal, heartfelt message expressing good wishes not just for the birthday, but for every day of the year.
愿你的生日充满欢笑和快乐 (Yuàn nǐ de shēngrì chōngmǎn huānxiào hé kuàilè)
Translation: May your birthday be filled with laughter and happiness.
This is a joyful and warm wish that expresses hope for a fun and happy birthday celebration.

Blessings for Family and Loved Ones

愿你家庭幸福，和睦安康 (Yuàn nǐ jiātíng xìngfú, hémù ān kāng)
Translation: Wishing you a happy family and peace and health.
This message is perfect for someone you care about deeply, offering blessings for their family’s happiness and well-being.
祝你和亲朋好友共享美好时光 (Zhù nǐ hé qīnpéng hǎoyǒu gòngxiǎng měihǎo shíguāng)
Translation: Wishing you and your loved ones share beautiful moments together.
This birthday wish expresses good wishes for time spent with family and friends.

A Poetic Birthday Wish

愿你在新的一岁里，心想事成，幸福如意 (Yuàn nǐ zài xīn de yī suì lǐ, xīn xiǎng shì chéng, xìngfú rú yì)
Translation: May everything you wish for come true in the new year of your life, with happiness and good fortune.
A poetic and elegant way to wish someone a prosperous and fulfilling year ahead.

Wishing Youth and Vitality

祝你青春永驻，容光焕发 (Zhù nǐ qīngchūn yǒng zhù, róngguāng huàn fā)
Translation: Wishing you eternal youth and radiant vitality.
This is a birthday wish that expresses a wish for someone to always remain youthful and full of energy.

Funny and Lighthearted Birthday Wishes

你老了一岁，但依然那么帅/美 (Nǐ lǎo le yī suì, dàn yīrán nàme shuài/měi)
Translation: You’ve gotten a year older, but you still look so handsome/beautiful.
A fun, lighthearted way to tease someone while still wishing them a happy birthday.
祝你生日快乐，蛋糕越吃越小，体重越来越轻！ (Zhù nǐ shēngrì kuàilè, dàngāo yuè chī yuè xiǎo, tǐzhòng yuè lái yuè qīng)
Translation: Wishing you a happy birthday, may the cake get smaller and your weight get lighter! A playful and humorous birthday wish that adds a fun twist to the celebration.

Conclusion: Birthday Wishes in Chinese

Whether you’re wishing someone health, happiness, success, or just a fun day filled with joy, birthday wishes in Chinese are a meaningful and thoughtful way to show you care. Chinese birthday greetings range from the simple and sweet to the elaborate and poetic, allowing you to tailor your message to the person you’re wishing. Expressing your birthday sentiments in Mandarin not only adds a personal touch but also shows cultural respect and appreciation.

So, whether it’s for a friend, family member, or colleague, these birthday wishes will surely bring a smile to their face and warmth to their heart.