Korean slang profile

생선

saengseon

A birthday present

An abbreviation of 생일 선물, meaning a birthday present. This use does not mean “fish.”

This is the earliest source we have verified, not the date the term was coined.

01Examples, with English translations

Example by Julimmal
엄마, 올해 생선은 신발로 부탁해.
Mom, could I have shoes for my birthday this year?
Quoted from a source
엄마 올해는 생선으로 구두 사 줘.[1]
Mom, buy me dress shoes as my birthday present this year.
English translation by Julimmal.

October 2012Mom, buy me dress shoes as my birthday present this year.[1]
July 2013Weekly Chosun: “‘Kimbab Heaven’ is abbreviated to ‘Gimcheon’, and ‘birthday party’ and ‘birthday gift’ are abbreviated to ‘생파’ and ‘생선’, respectively.”[2]
September 2017Bravo My Life: “As a sister product, there is ‘생선’, which is a shortened birthday gift.”[3]

Short for “생일 선물.” The 2012 source from SBS explicitly gives this explanation. Who first used it and when have not been verified.

Evidence for the origin explanationHigh

The explanation is explicit in the sources, and at least two sources use the same meaning. When it was first used is unknown.

Original titles and links are preserved. An English translation does not replace the original source.