# How do you reply when someone says "Happy Birthday" **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 30, 2017, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-reply-when-someone-says-happy-birthday/790197 "2017-06-30T15:29:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2017, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-reply-when-someone-says-happy-birthday/790197/41 "2017-07-02T15:15:10Z")
I say “It’s not my birthday.” If they then ask when my birthday is, I pick a date approximately six months off. ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2017, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-reply-when-someone-says-happy-birthday/790197/42 "2017-07-02T18:05:14Z")
> [@Nava](#): > > … soooo… you’re using _l’havdil_ to separate dog and wife? To clarify that you do not consider them equivalent? (Trying to make sure I understood correctly) > > … Absolutely correct. People use it in normal conversation, as well. ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2017, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-reply-when-someone-says-happy-birthday/790197/43 "2017-07-02T18:14:42Z")
Another one you hear, and read more often only with religious writing or sermons, is “_y’mach sh’mo_,” which means “May his name be obliterated.” Nowadays one guy only has a lock on that; and occasionally I go full Monty with (the truthful sentence) “My wife and, _l’havdil_, Hitler, _y’mach sh’mo,_ have the same birthday.” A fact which gets mentioned by me, usually in her presence, more than is necessary. ETA: Hey, this actually can get by as being on OP–birthdays! And, no, she don’t say “Thank You,” unless it is with blinding sarcasm and bitter regret for having married me. ---
**Author:** ![ZPG\_Zealot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e47c2d/32.png) [@ZPG\_Zealot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZPG_Zealot)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2017, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-reply-when-someone-says-happy-birthday/790197/44 "2017-07-02T18:17:49Z")
“How did you know it’s my birthday?” ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2017, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-reply-when-someone-says-happy-birthday/790197/45 "2017-07-02T18:26:45Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > **How do you reply when someone says “Happy Birthday”** > > Grab crotch and say, “I _loved_ your mom’s birthday present”. > > ETA: “hey, stop crying, Sis, I was kidding”. Your crotch or theirs? ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2017, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-reply-when-someone-says-happy-birthday/790197/46 "2017-07-02T23:36:20Z")
> [@Elemenopy](#): > > If you would kindly explain, which aspect is “expressly” forbidden in Japanese? I’m not quite understanding. Are you saying that it is more polite to disagree with the well-wishing than to simply acknowledge it, or…? The “expressly” forbidden is to agree with a compliment about you. For example, if you are a good cook and someone compliments your food, then it’s more polite to deny that the food is good. Agreeing with someone sounds childish. This also extends to the group you are in when thanked by an outsider. So, of someone says that your wife is beautiful, then you are to disagree with them. Or if your customer says that your company president is wonderful, etc. For birthdays, when people tell you “congratulations” then the best rely is “iie” which literally translates as “no.” However, it’s softer. When I was in business and had to interpret for people in business settings, I took a lot of liberty into translating what would be the expected answer in that culture. So hypothetically, if a Japanese client complimented my boss on his beautiful wife, my boss would have said “thank you, I think so, too” and I would have said “Oh no, not at all.” ---
**Author:** ![simster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simster/32/1047_2.png) [@simster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simster)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2017, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-reply-when-someone-says-happy-birthday/790197/47 "2017-07-03T01:46:35Z")
What do you mean, Happy Birthday? Do you wish me a happy birthday,or mean that it is a happy birthday whether I want it or not; or that you’re happy this birthday; or that it is a birthday to be happy on? ---
**Author:** ![Tripler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripler/32/21807_2.png) [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2017, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-reply-when-someone-says-happy-birthday/790197/48 "2017-07-03T03:05:04Z")
_“Thanks! I’ve lived more life in my forty than you will in your hundred!”_ No, I wouldn’t be an asshole, but I would keep in mind the statement above. Tripler I’ve lived a metric ton of life. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2017, 12:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-reply-when-someone-says-happy-birthday/790197/49 "2017-07-03T12:06:18Z")
> [@gigi](#): > > Your crotch or theirs? Let’s keep politics out of General Questions. NB: and how has this remained in GQ for so long? Somebody needs to do a **Colibri** wellness check. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2017, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-reply-when-someone-says-happy-birthday/790197/51 "2017-07-03T16:26:19Z")
I say my age and add “and counting.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-reply-when-someone-says-happy-birthday/790197.md?page=2)