Congratulations! Graduation is an exciting milestone worth celebrating, and if you’re looking to extend your wishes in Korean, you’ve come to the right place. In this guide, we’ll explore both formal and informal ways to say “Happy Graduation” in Korean. So, let’s dive right in, shall we?
Table of Contents
Formal Way:
When it comes to conveying formal congratulations in Korean, you typically use expressions that show respect and honor the achievement. Here’s the formal way to say “Happy Graduation” in Korean:
“졸업을 축하합니다!” (Joh-lob-eul chook-ha-ham-ni-da!)
The phrase “졸업을 축하합니다!” is the go-to expression for congratulating someone on their graduation in formal settings. Pronounced “Joh-lob-eul chook-ha-ham-ni-da,” it literally means “Congratulations on your graduation!” When delivering this message, be sure to use a respectful tone and use appropriate honorific language based on the formal relationship you have with the recipient.
Informal Way:
If you’re congratulating a friend or someone close to you, it’s common to use a more casual language and skip the honorifics. Here’s how you can say “Happy Graduation” in an informal way:
“졸업 축하해!” (Joh-lob chook-ha-he!)
The informal expression for “Happy Graduation” is “졸업 축하해!” pronounced as “Joh-lob chook-ha-he!”. This phrase carries a warm, friendly vibe and is perfect when you want to share your joy and excitement with a close friend or family member who is graduating.
Additional Tips:
While the above expressions are the most common ways to say “Happy Graduation” in Korean, there are a few additional tips and variations you might find helpful:
1. Adding the Person’s Name:
To make your congratulations more personalized, you can add the person’s name before the expression:
- Formal: “[Name]씨, 졸업을 축하합니다!” ([Name]-ssi, joh-lob-eul chook-ha-ham-ni-da!)
- Informal: “[Name]야, 졸업 축하해!” ([Name]-ya, joh-lob chook-ha-he!)
Remember to replace “[Name]” with the actual name of the person you’re congratulating.
2. Regional Variations:
While the expressions mentioned earlier are widely used across Korea, there might be slight regional variations based on dialects. Here’s an example from the Busan dialect:
“잘졸!” (Jal-jol!)
The phrase “잘졸!” is a regional variation of “Congratulations on your graduation!” predominantly used in the Busan area. It’s a casual and abbreviated form in the local dialect, and it carries the same meaning as the standard expressions mentioned earlier.
3. Using Emoticons:
When congratulating someone through texting or social media, you can also incorporate Korean emoticons to add a touch of fun and warmth. For example:
- Formal: “졸업을 축하합니다! ????????” (Joh-lob-eul chook-ha-ham-ni-da! ????????)
- Informal: “졸업 축하해! ????????” (Joh-lob chook-ha-he! ????????)
Feel free to customize these messages further or include other relevant emoticons to match your unique communication style!
Conclusion
Congratulating someone on their graduation is a wonderful way to acknowledge their hard work and accomplishments. In Korean, you can do this by saying “졸업을 축하합니다!” (Joh-lob-eul chook-ha-ham-ni-da!) in formal settings or “졸업 축하해!” (Joh-lob chook-ha-he!) in informal contexts. Remember to adjust the level of formality based on your relationship with the recipient, and feel free to personalize your message by adding the person’s name or using local dialect variations if desired. Finally, don’t hesitate to incorporate Korean emoticons to make your wishes even more heartfelt and celebratory. Happy Graduation!
