How to Say ‘What did you do for your birthday this year?’ in Traditional Chinese
你今年生日做了什麼？
nǐ jīn nián shēng rì zuò le shén me
[nee jeen-nyen sheng-rih zuò le shén me]
💬 Usage Tip: The time phrase 今年生日 comes early, right after the subject, and not at the end as in English. Chinese generally sets the time before saying what happened.
Phrase Breakdown
你今年生日
nǐ jīn nián shēng rì
your birthday this year
今年 (jīnnián) means 'this year'. It comes before 生日 (shēngrì) to set the time.
你今年生日在哪裡過？
Where did you spend your birthday this year?
Words in this phrase
你
nǐ
[nee]
you
The common singular word for you.
你今天很早。
You are early today.
今年
jīn nián
[jeen-nyen]
this year
Refers to the current year (often used in New Year greetings to talk about hopes for the coming year).
今年祝你身體健康、萬事順心。
This year, I wish you good health and that everything goes smoothly.
生日
shēng rì
[sheng-rih]
birthday
The day someone was born; also used in birthday celebrations.
今天是爸爸的生日。
Today is Dad’s birthday.
做了什麼？
zuò le shén me
what did you do?
了 (le) marks a completed action. 什麼 (shénme) means 'what'.
週末做了什麼？
What did you do on the weekend?
Words in this phrase
做
zuò
[zuò]
to do
To carry out an action or task.
他喜歡做運動。
He likes to do exercises.
了
le
[le]
completed action marker
Indicates an action has been completed.
他已經走了。
He has already left.
什麼
shén me
[shén me]
what
A pronoun used to ask about something.
這是什麼？
What is this?
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