How to Say ‘My Birthday Was on the 15th’ in Korean

If you’re looking to say ‘My birthday was on the 15th’ in Korean, there are a couple of ways to express it depending on the context. In this article, we’ll break down the correct Korean phrase and how to use it in different situations.

1. Basic Phrase for Saying Your Birthday Was on the 15th

The most straightforward translation for ‘My birthday was on the 15th’ is: “제 생일은 15일이었어요” (je saengil-eun 15il-ieoss-eoyo).

This sentence follows the standard Korean sentence structure, where ‘제 생일’ means ‘my birthday,’ ’15일’ means ‘the 15th,’ and ‘이었어요’ is the past tense form of ‘to be.’ This is a polite way of saying it, suitable for general use.

2. Using ‘날’ Instead of ‘일’ for a More Casual Expression

If you want to be a bit more casual, you can use ‘날’ instead of ‘일’. This is common in informal conversations, especially with close friends or family. The phrase would be: “내 생일은 15일이었어” (nae saengil-eun 15il-ieoss-eo).

Here, ‘내’ means ‘my’ in a more casual tone, and the ending ‘었어’ is the informal version of the past tense.

3. Adding Context for a More Detailed Sentence

If you want to provide a bit more context, like mentioning the year or the day of the week, you can extend your sentence. For example: “제 생일은 15일 금요일이었어요” (je saengil-eun 15il geumyoil-ieoss-eoyo), meaning ‘My birthday was on Friday, the 15th.’

Adding ‘금요일’ (Friday) gives the listener more details about when your birthday took place, which can be useful in more specific conversations.

4. Conclusion

Whether you’re speaking formally or casually, learning how to say your birthday in Korean is easy with the right vocabulary. The phrases provided above will help you share your birthday information with ease in any situation.