새해 복 많이 받으세요
saehae bok mani badeuseyo
Happy New Year
Phrase in 30 Seconds
The essential Korean greeting used to wish others luck and prosperity during the New Year season.
- Means: 'Please receive a lot of New Year's luck.'
- Used in: Lunar New Year (Seollal) and Solar New Year (Jan 1st).
- Don't confuse: It's an imperative ('receive!'), not a statement like 'Happy New Year'.
Explanation at your level:
意思
A traditional greeting for the New Year, wishing much fortune.
文化背景
During the Lunar New Year, the phrase is part of the 'Sebae' ritual. Children bow to elders to receive 'Sebaetdon' (money). Eating 'Tteokguk' (rice cake soup) on New Year's Day is said to give you one more year of age and a clean start. Every year is associated with a zodiac animal (e.g., Year of the Dragon). People often add the animal's name to the greeting. It is common to send mass emails or texts with this phrase to all clients and partners during the first week of the year.
The Bowing Rule
If you are in Korea during Seollal, a slight bow (nodding your head and shoulders) while saying this phrase adds a lot of sincerity.
Lunar vs Solar
Koreans say this twice! Once on Jan 1st and again on the Lunar New Year. You can't say it too much.
意思
A traditional greeting for the New Year, wishing much fortune.
The Bowing Rule
If you are in Korea during Seollal, a slight bow (nodding your head and shoulders) while saying this phrase adds a lot of sincerity.
Lunar vs Solar
Koreans say this twice! Once on Jan 1st and again on the Lunar New Year. You can't say it too much.
The 'Deokdam' Response
If an elder says this to you, respond with '네, 감사합니다. (Name)님도 새해 복 많이 받으세요.'
Don't Abbreviate to Elders
Never use '새복많' (slang) with anyone older than you or in a professional setting.
自我测试
Choose the most appropriate greeting for your Korean boss on January 1st.
What should you say to your boss?
The '-으세요' form is the correct polite formal register for a boss.
Complete the phrase with the correct word for 'luck/blessing'.
새해 ___ 많이 받으세요.
'복' ({복|福}) is the word for luck or blessing used in this greeting.
Match the phrase to the person.
1. 새해 복 많이 받아 | 2. 새해 복 많이 받으십시오
Informal '받아' is for younger siblings; very formal '받으십시오' is for high-ranking officials.
Complete the dialogue between a grandmother and a grandson.
Grandson: 할머니, 새해 복 많이 받으세요! (Bows) Grandmother: 그래, 우리 민수도 ___ 많이 받아라.
The grandmother returns the wish for 'Bok' (luck).
🎉 得分： /4
视觉学习工具
When to use which form?
Formal
- • Boss
- • Teacher
- • Elderly neighbor
Informal
- • Best friend
- • Younger sibling
- • Pet
常见问题
10 个问题Usually, about a week after the Lunar New Year ends, it starts to feel outdated.
Yes! It's very common to say it to shopkeepers or neighbors in early January.
Yes, it is a traditional greeting used across the entire peninsula.
'새해' is native Korean and used in speech. '신년' is Sino-Korean and used more in formal writing or news.
No, a full bow (Sebae) is only for family elders on Seollal. A simple head nod is enough for daily life.
'-으세요' is the honorific imperative, which is the standard for formal wishes and greetings.
Absolutely. It is the most common way to start a New Year's email.
It's better to say '올해 좋은 일 많으시길 바랍니다' (I hope you have many good things this year) instead.
You can use the informal '새해 복 많이 받아~' with a cute tone.
It's a broad term for good fortune, blessings, and luck that comes from a higher power or ancestors.
相关表达
올해도 잘 부탁드립니다
builds onI look forward to your kind cooperation this year too.
건강하세요
similarPlease be healthy.
부자 되세요
specialized formBecome rich!
좋은 일만 가득하세요
similarMay your year be filled with only good things.
在哪里用
Meeting a neighbor in the elevator on Jan 1st
Neighbor: 안녕하세요! 새해 복 많이 받으세요.
You: 네, 안녕하세요! 새해 복 많이 받으세요.
Visiting grandparents for Seollal
You: (Bowing) 할머니, 할아버지, 새해 복 많이 받으세요.
Grandmother: 그래, 우리 강아지(sweetie)도 복 많이 받아라.
First day back at work in January
Manager: 김 대리, 새해 복 많이 받으세요.
You: 부장님도 새해 복 많이 받으세요! 올해도 잘 부탁드립니다.
Texting a close friend
Friend: 야! 새해 복 많이 받아!
You: 너도! 우리 올해는 더 자주 보자.
Ordering food on New Year's Day
Delivery Person: 맛있게 드세요. 새해 복 많이 받으세요.
You: 감사합니다. 새해 복 많이 받으세요!
Posting on Instagram/Social Media
Caption: 모두들 새해 복 많이 받으세요! 2024년 화이팅! ✨
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Think of 'Saehae' as 'Say Hey' to the 'New Year'. 'Bok' sounds like a 'Box' of luck you want to 'Receive' (Badeuseyo).
Visual Association
Imagine a bright red silk pouch (Bok-jumeoni) overflowing with gold coins and sparkling stars. You are holding your hands out to catch it as it falls from the sky.
Rhyme
Saehae Bok, in your pocket it will lock!
Story
On a snowy morning in Seoul, a little boy named Minho puts on his colorful Hanbok. He walks to his grandfather, bows deeply to the floor, and says 'Saehae bok 많이 받으세요!' Grandfather smiles and hands him a crisp 10,000 won bill. The 'Bok' (luck) has been received!
Word Web
挑战
Try saying the phrase 5 times fast while doing a slight bow. Then, send a '새해 복 많이 받으세요' message to one Korean friend or teacher on KakaoTalk.
In Other Languages
Happy New Year
Korean is an imperative wish for luck, not just a description of a happy state.
明けましておめでとうございます
Japanese looks at the event of the new year; Korean looks at the blessings it brings.
新年快乐 (Xīnnián kuàilè) / 恭喜发财 (Gōngxǐ fācái)
Korean is more generalized 'luck' while Chinese often specifies 'wealth' or 'happiness'.
¡Feliz Año Nuevo!
Spanish is a simple adjective-noun wish; Korean is a verb-based honorific request.
Bonne Année
French is a noun phrase; Korean is a full honorific sentence.
Frohes neues Jahr
German lacks the concept of 'receiving luck' as a standard greeting.
كل عام وأنت بخير (Kull 'am wa antum bikhayr)
Arabic focuses on the state of being 'well,' while Korean focuses on 'receiving luck'.
Feliz Ano Novo
Lacks the imperative 'receive' structure.
Easily Confused
Learners sometimes use '축하해요' (congratulations) for New Year.
Use '축하해요' for birthdays and achievements; use '복 많이 받으세요' for New Year.
Literal translation of 'Happy New Year'.
This sounds like a movie title or a book chapter, not a greeting.
常见问题 (10)
Usually, about a week after the Lunar New Year ends, it starts to feel outdated.
Yes! It's very common to say it to shopkeepers or neighbors in early January.
Yes, it is a traditional greeting used across the entire peninsula.
'새해' is native Korean and used in speech. '신년' is Sino-Korean and used more in formal writing or news.
No, a full bow (Sebae) is only for family elders on Seollal. A simple head nod is enough for daily life.
'-으세요' is the honorific imperative, which is the standard for formal wishes and greetings.
Absolutely. It is the most common way to start a New Year's email.
It's better to say '올해 좋은 일 많으시길 바랍니다' (I hope you have many good things this year) instead.
You can use the informal '새해 복 많이 받아~' with a cute tone.
It's a broad term for good fortune, blessings, and luck that comes from a higher power or ancestors.
