may your happiness be as immense as the Eastern Sea; traditional birthday blessing
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 2 examplesidiom
happiness as boundless as the Eastern Sea; may your good fortune be immense
formalThis is a traditional congratulatory phrase, almost always used on birthdays, especially for elderly people. It is almost invariably paired with its counterpart "寿比南山" (shòu bǐ nán shān, "May your lifespan be as long as the Southern Mountains"). The combination forms a complete birthday wish: 福如东海，寿比南山.
Jīn今
tiān天
shì是
yé爷
ye爷
bā八
shí十
dà大
shòu寿
，
wǒ我
men们
zhù祝
tā他
fú福
rú如
dōng东
hǎi海
，
shòu寿
bǐ比
nán南
shān山
。
Today is Grandpa's 80th birthday; we wish him boundless happiness and eternal life.
Shēng生
rì日
hè贺
kǎ卡
shang上
xiě写
zhe着
：
Zhù祝
nín您
fú福
rú如
dōng东
hǎi海
cháng长
liú流
shuǐ水
，
shòu寿
bǐ比
nán南
shān山
bù不
lǎo老
sōng松
。
The birthday card reads: "May your happiness flow eternally like the Eastern Sea, and may your life be as enduring as the immortal pine of the Southern Mountains."