Korean Dictionary
How to say "Seaweed soup on birthday" in Korean
“Seaweed soup on birthday” in Korean is 생일 미역국 (pronounced "Saengil miyeok-guk").
생일 미역국
Saengil miyeok-guk
Usage & Context
A traditional Korean soup eaten on birthdays. Seaweed soup is believed to bring good luck and health.
Example Sentence
생일에 미역국을 먹습니다.
We eat seaweed soup on birthdays.
How to use 생일 미역국 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Seaweed soup on birthday” is 생일 미역국, romanized as Saengil miyeok-guk.
Usage tip
Learn this word together with a complete Korean sentence. Meaning often depends on particles, politeness level, and word order.
Common mistake
Do not rely only on the English meaning. Read the Korean example sentence and notice the particles, word order, and politeness level around 생일 미역국.
Pronunciation Guide
생일 (Saeng-il): 'Saeng' sounds like 'sang' in 'sang a song,' but with a slightly softer 'ng.' 'Il' sounds like 'ill.' 미역국 (Mi-yeok-guk): 'Mi' sounds like 'me.' 'Yeok' sounds like 'yuck' but with a softer 'y' and an unreleased 'k' sound. 'Guk' sounds like 'gook' but with a softer 'g' and an unreleased 'k' sound.
More Example Sentences
A child complimenting their mother's cooking on their birthday.
엄마, 생일 미역국 정말 맛있어요!
Mom, the birthday seaweed soup is really delicious!
Someone preparing a birthday meal for a friend.
친구 생일이라서 미역국 끓여주려고요.
It's my friend's birthday, so I'm going to cook them seaweed soup.
Explaining a Korean custom to a foreigner.
한국에서는 생일 아침에 미역국을 먹는 게 전통이에요.
In Korea, it's a tradition to eat seaweed soup on birthday mornings.
Cultural Context
Miyeok-guk is deeply symbolic in Korea. It's eaten on birthdays to honor mothers, as seaweed soup is traditionally given to women after childbirth to aid recovery and promote milk production. It's also believed to bring good luck and health for the coming year. Missing a birthday miyeok-guk is often seen as a bit sad or unlucky, and in K-dramas, you frequently see characters preparing or receiving it, highlighting its importance.
Editorial note
We review entries like 생일 미역국 for pronunciation, example sentence fit, and learner mistakes so the page answers more than a direct dictionary lookup.
Reviewed by Min-jung Park, Korean Language Teacher. Updated May 31, 2026. See our editorial standards.
Common Phrases
생일 미역국 끓여줄게.
I'll cook you birthday seaweed soup.
생일 미역국 먹었어?
Did you eat your birthday seaweed soup?
엄마가 끓여준 미역국이 최고야.
The seaweed soup my mom made is the best.
Related Expressions
생일
saengil
Birthday
미역
miyeok
Seaweed (the ingredient)
국
guk
Soup
생일상
saengilsang
Birthday table/feast
More Parenting & Family Life Words
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