What does 축하해 (chukhae) mean?
- 축하해chukhae
Congratulations
Casual: friends and people younger than you
축하해 (chukhae) means "congratulations" or "congrats" in Korean. It is the casual form, for friends and people younger than you. Put the occasion in front of it, like 합격 축하해, "congrats on passing."
Where it comes from
축하 is a Sino-Korean word meaning celebration or congratulations, and 해 is the casual form of 하다, "to do." So it means "I congratulate (you)."
How to use 축하해
Use it for good news of any kind: passing an exam, a new job, a wedding, a birthday or a win.
With someone older, say 축하해요 or 축하드려요. In speeches and on stage you will hear 축하합니다 or 축하드립니다.
In texts, people type ㅊㅋ or ㅊㅋㅊㅋ as a quick, playful congrats between friends.
Examples
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A friend passed a big exam
Texting a friend who got a job
Congratulating a coworker on their wedding
Other ways to say it
| Korean | Meaning | When |
|---|---|---|
| 축하해요 | Congratulations | Polite. |
| 축하합니다 | Congratulations | Formal. |
| 축하드려요 | Congratulations | Very respectful, for elders and bosses. |
| ㅊㅋㅊㅋ | Congrats congrats | Texting shorthand. |
Questions learners ask
Is it chukha or chukhae?
The casual form is 축하해, so chukhae is more accurate. Chukha is a common shortened search spelling.
How do you say congratulations formally?
Say 축하합니다 (chukhahamnida) or, even more respectfully, 축하드립니다 (chukhadeurimnida).