What does ㅊㅋ (chukka) mean?
- ㅊㅋchukka
Congrats / congratz
Casual: friends and people younger than you
ㅊㅋ (chukka) means "congrats" in Korean texting. It is short for 축하 (chukha), from 축하해 ("congratulations").
Where it comes from
ㅊ and ㅋ are the first consonants of 축 and 하. The ㅋ comes from how 축하 is pronounced, which sounds like "chu-ka".
How to use ㅊㅋ
ㅊㅋ is a quick, happy way to congratulate a friend on a birthday, a new job, passing a test or anything good. It is almost always doubled as ㅊㅋㅊㅋ, which sounds more excited and warm.
It is casual, so use it with friends, siblings and people your age. For a boss or an older relative, write 축하드려요 or 축하합니다 in full. A real milestone also deserves more than ㅊㅋ, so many people add a longer message after it.
You can put what you are celebrating in front: 생일 ㅊㅋ ("happy birthday"), 합격 ㅊㅋ ("congrats on passing").
Examples
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Friend passes their exam
Group chat on a friend's birthday
Friend gets the job they wanted
Other ways to say it
| Korean | Meaning | When |
|---|---|---|
| ㅊㅋㅊㅋ | Congrats congrats | The most common, excited form. |
| 축하해 | Congratulations | Normal casual phrase. |
| 축하드려요 | Congratulations | Polite, respectful version. |
| 생일 ㅊㅋ | Happy birthday | Casual typed birthday wish. |
Questions learners ask
What does ㅊㅋㅊㅋ mean?
ㅊㅋㅊㅋ is 축하축하, an excited "congrats, congrats!". It is the most common way to type it.
Can I write ㅊㅋ to my teacher?
No, it is too casual. Write 축하드려요 or 축하합니다 instead.
Why is it ㅊㅋ and not ㅊㅎ?
축하 is pronounced like "chu-ka", so people type the sound they hear, ㅋ, rather than the spelling.