In Chinese culture, a 生日 (shēngrì) is often more of a family-centric event than a friend-focused party, especially for older generations. The celebration is deeply connected to Confucian values of filial piety and respect for elders. A key difference from Western culture is the emphasis on longevity. Traditional birthday foods are symbolic:
While young people in modern China have adopted Western traditions like birthday cakes, parties, and KTV (karaoke), the tradition of a family meal remains central. The birthdays of elders (e.g., the 60th, 70th, 80th) are particularly grand occasions called 寿 (shòu), which are major family milestones celebrated with elaborate banquets. Another important cultural point is the calendar. While most people now use the Gregorian calendar (公历, gōnglì), many older individuals, or those in more traditional families, still mark their 生日 (shēngrì) according to the Lunar calendar (农历, nónglì). This means their birthday falls on a different date each year in the Western calendar.
生日 (shēngrì) is a common, everyday word. Here's how you'll encounter it:
The term is neutral and can be used in any context, from a casual chat with a friend to a formal invitation for a birthday banquet.