How to say “Congratulations” in Korean
- 축하해요chukhahaeyo
Congratulations
"Congratulations" in Korean is 축하해요 (chukhahaeyo), the polite form that works with almost anyone. Friends just say 축하해 (chukhahae). To say what you are congratulating someone on, put the word for it first, like 결혼 축하해요 (congratulations on your wedding).
Ways to say it
| Korean | Level | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| 축하해 chukhahae | Casual | To friends, younger people, and family members close to you. |
| 축하해요 chukhahaeyo | Polite | The everyday polite form for coworkers, acquaintances, and people you just met. |
| 축하합니다 chukhahamnida | Formal | For speeches, announcements, or congratulating someone in a formal setting. |
| 축하드립니다 chukhadeurimnida | Formal | Very respectful. Use it in cards or messages to a boss, a teacher, or an elder. |
| ㅊㅋ chukha (texting) | Casual | Texting shorthand made of the first consonants of 축하. Often doubled as ㅊㅋㅊㅋ. |
Examples
Tap a word to see what it means and save it to your flashcards.
A friend tells you they passed an exam
Writing in a coworker's wedding card
Your manager just got promoted
Tips
The pattern is simple: event + 축하해요. Try 졸업 축하해요 (graduation), 생일 축하해요 (birthday), or 취업 축하해요 (getting a job).
축하 sounds like "chu-ka" in real speech, so 축하해요 sounds close to "chu-ka-hae-yo."
When someone congratulates you, answer with 고마워 (gomawo) to a friend or 감사합니다 (gamsahamnida) to anyone else.
Questions learners ask
How do you reply when someone says 축하해요?
Just say thank you: 고마워요 (gomawoyo) or 감사합니다 (gamsahamnida). With a friend, 고마워 (gomawo) is enough.
What is the difference between 축하해요 and 축하드려요?
Both mean congratulations and both are polite. 축하드려요 uses a humble verb, so it sounds more respectful and suits elders, bosses, and teachers.