축하해요
chukhahaeyo
Congratulations in Korean can be expressed as 축하해요 (chukhahaeyo). Wiktionary also lists 축하합니다 (chukhahamnida).
Meaning: expressing approbation (intj)
Ways to say it
| Korean | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 축하해요 | chukhahaeyo |
| 축하합니다 | chukhahamnida |
This phrase is used to express approbation. When using these expressions, you often omit the subject 'you' because the context makes it clear.
Which one should you use?
축하해요 is the standard polite form, while 축하합니다 is the formal/honorific form used in more public or professional settings.
How does it change in a sentence?
The casual form 축하해 is used with close friends or people younger than you.
How do you pronounce it?
chukhahaeyo
Did you know?
- While 축하해요 is common, Koreans often use the phrase 수고하셨습니다 ('you worked hard') as a way to congratulate someone on a professional achievement, focusing on the effort rather than the result.
- In modern Korean texting, people often shorten 축하해 to the single character ㅊㅋ, which is a shorthand version of the consonants in the word.
- If you are congratulating someone on a wedding, you will often see the word 축결혼 ('celebrating marriage') written in large characters on the white envelope used to give monetary gifts.
Examples in context
- 축하해요!Congratulations!This sentence is useful for a simple congratulatory exclamation using 축하해요.Tatoeba #9414924 by kerun, translation #1437 by CK
- 당신의 얼굴에 축하합니다.Congratulations on your face.This sentence uses 축하합니다 to congratulate someone on their face.Tatoeba #1108450 by Arraroak, translation #1099156 by Arraroak
- 축하합니다, 지수 씨Congratulations, Miss Ji Soo.
- 승진을 정말 축하해요!seungjin-eul jeongmal chukahaeyo!Congratulations on your promotion!
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Jihoon congratulates Seoyeon on winning a photography contest.
- 지훈 Ji-hun서연 씨, 사진 공모전 당선을 축하해요!Seoyeon ssi, sajin gongmojeon dangseoneul chukahaeyo!Seoyeon, congratulations on winning the photography contest!
- 서연 Seo-yeon정말 고마워요, 지훈 씨.jeongmal gomawoyo, Jihoon ssi.Thank you so much, Jihoon.
- 지훈 Ji-hun정말 대단해요!jeongmal daedanhaeyo!That is truly amazing!
- 서연 Seo-yeon다 지훈 씨가 응원해준 덕분이에요.da Jihoon ssi-ga eungwonhaejun deokbunieyo.It is all thanks to your support.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “congratulations” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
Thank you! My granddaughter just achieved her blue belt in taekwondo, and l wanted to congratulate her appropriately. Best wishes to you in you r work and live of language.