How To Say Happy New Year In Korean?

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It’s true that the new year is the most widely celebrated holiday around the globe but in Korea, you’ll hear happy new year in Korean twice a year.

 Here’s what I mean

Koreans celebrate the solar new year (1st January) and lunar new year (selloal) every year. If you have Korean friends and family whom you want to wish for? Or simply want to learn how to say a happy new year in Korean like a native. It’s time to brush up on your Korean New Year greetings!

The common way to say happy new year in Korean is 새해 복 많이 받으세요 (saehae bok mani badeuseyo) means “I hope you receive a lot of luck in the New Year”. 

But is it enough? Not exactly

Here’s a complete guide to essential phrases in Korean for “Happy New Year” and other holiday wishes with Korean vocabulary to celebrate like a native and how to set your New Year’s resolutions in Korean.

Alright world, let’s dig in.

How To Say Happy New Year In Korean?

The simplest way to say happy new year in Korean is 새해 복 많이 받으세요 (saehae bok mani badeuseyo) means “I wish you good luck in the New Year.” 새해 (saehae) translates to ‘new year,’ 복(bok) to ‘luck,’ and 많이 (mani) to a lot of.’ 새해 복 많이 받아(Saehae Bok Mani Bada) is an informal way of wishing someone a happy new year. Simply say the words 새해 복 많이 받으십시오 (saehae bok mani badeusipsio) to make it more formal.

Here’s how to say happy new year in Korean (informal, polite, formal way) correctly including their hangul and romanization, 

  • The standard polite way- 새해 복 많이 받으세요 (saehae bok mani badeuseyo)
  • The causal way -새해 복 많이 받아 (Saehae Bok Mani Bada)
  • The formal way – 새해 복 많이 받으십시오 (saehae bok mani badeusipsio)

Let’s see them in detail

Happy New Year In Korean Informal|

새해 복 많이 받아 (Saehae Bok Mani Bada)  is an informal version of the Korean language. You can use it for people close to you, such as friends and boyfriends/girlfriends. The polite ending ‘받으세요)’ has been replaced with ‘받아’.

You shouldn’t be used in formal situations. Especially when you’re talking to older people

So if you aren’t absolutely certain that someone‘s age or how to greet them it’s best to stick with something polite version 새해 복 많이 받으세요 (saehae bok mani badeuseyo) 

Happy New Year In Korean Standard Way

새해 복 많이 받으세요 (saehae bok mani badeuseyo) is the common and polite way of saying ‘Happy New Year‘ in Korean. It literally means “I hope you receive a lot of luck in the New Year”.새해 (saehae) is one of the words that means ‘new year’, 복 (bok) means ‘luck’, and 많이 (mani) means ‘many’ or ‘lots of’. 받으세요 (badeuseyo) is the honorific way of saying 받다 (batda), meaning ‘to receive.

you would say this to your teacher, boss, family, grandparents, older friends, coworkers, or whenever you need to be polite.

Happy New Year In Korean Formal |

The phrase 새해 복 많이 받으십시오(saehae bok mani badeusipsio) is frequently used to express happy new year in Korean. The 십시오(sipsio) ending is an extra-formal way of stating 세요 (seyo). These can be found on formal greeting cards, office emails, or a billboard on the street, but not in a real-life conversation.

Korean won’t use this one very often.

Must-Know Korean Words For The New Year!

 

Here’s a list of common Korean words you’ll hear during the New Year’s celebrations in Korea.

  • midnight – 자정(jajeong)
  • New Year’s Day – 새해 첫날(saehae cheonnal)
  • Year – 년(nyeon)
  • Party – 파티(pati)
  • Fireworks – 불꽃놀이(bulkkotnori)
  • Fortune- bok
  • New Year’s Holiday – 연말 연시(yeonmal yeonsi)
  • Countdown – 카운트 다운(kaunteu daun)
  • toast – 건배(geonbae)
  • Champagne – 샴페인(syampein)
  • New Year’s meal – 구정 음식(gujeong eumsik)
  • Resolution – 새해소원(saehaesowon)
  • New Year – 새해
  • Parade – 퍼레이드(peoreideu)
  • New Years Eve – 섣달 그믐(seotdal geumeum)
  • Winter – 겨울(kyul)

How To Say New Year Resolutions In Korean?

새해 결심 (Saehae Gyeolshim) is the common way to say a new year’s resolution. It came from the word new year(새해[saehae],신년[sinnyeon] or 올해 [olhae]) and resolutions have 3 different words in Korean i.e. 계획(gyehwek) means plan, 결심(gyolsim) means resolution and 목표(mokpyo)means goal. 

Here are the 9 ways you can translated new year resolution in korean

  •  새해 계획(saehae gyehwek), 
  • 새해 결심(saehae gyolsim), 
  • 신년 결심(sinnyon gyolsim), 
  • 새해목표(saehaemokpyo), 
  • 신년계획(sinnyongyehwek), 
  • 신년목표(sinnyonmokpyo),
  • 올해계획(olhaegyehwek),
  • 올해결심(olhaegyolsim),
  • 올해목표(olhaemokpyo).

Conclusion

Voila!! You now know how to say Happy New Year in Korean, and also a few other helpful phrases!

You’re now able to respond to everyone’s holiday wishes and greet your dear ones with a Happy And prosperous new Year in Korean.

So, let’s not be shy to apply your vocabulary words to show your care for your family and friends during the holidays and let them know that you wish them a happy and healthy new year. 

Still in the holiday spirit? want to know more about new year's resolutions.

Check out our articles for more information on how to say happy new year in Korean and traditions.