What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of 졸업 (graduation), the object marker 을 and 축하합니다 (to congratulate).
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
In formal settings, use 졸업을 축하합니다. If you are congratulating a superior or an elder, a more formal and highly respectful version is 졸업을 축하드립니다. For informal settings, such as speaking to friends or people younger than you, use 졸업 축하해! When addressing someone formally, you can add their name followed by 씨 before the expression, such as [Name]씨, 졸업을 축하합니다! In an informal setting, you can add a name followed by 야 before the expression, such as [Name]야, 졸업 축하해!
How does it change in a sentence?
The informal version 졸업 축하해 is specifically used with friends or people younger than you.
How do you pronounce it?
joreobeul chukhahamnida
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often try to translate "happy" literally as 행복한, but in Korean, it is much more natural to use the verb "to congratulate" (축하하다) instead.
Did you know?
- Graduation in Korea often happens in February rather than May or June, meaning 졸업을 축하합니다 is a common phrase heard during the transition from winter to spring.
- While 졸업 means 'graduation', the word 졸 (jol) literally means 'to finish' and 업 (eop) means 'study' or 'work'.
- The honorific version 축하드립니다 uses a verb meaning 'to give' or 'to offer', effectively framing the congratulations as a gift being presented to a superior.
Examples in context
- 졸업을 축하합니다!joreobeul chukahamnida!Happy graduation!
- 진심으로 졸업을 축하합니다.jinsimeuro joreobeul chukahamnida.I sincerely congratulate you on your graduation.
Example conversation
Dohyun meets Seoyeon at her graduation ceremony.
- 도현 Do-hyeon서연 씨, 졸업을 축하합니다!Seoyeon ssi, joreobeul chukahamnida!Seoyeon, happy graduation!
- 서연 Seo-yeon도현 씨, 정말 고마워요.Dohyeon ssi, jeongmal gomawoyo.Dohyun, thank you so much.
- 도현 Do-hyeon그동안 정말 고생 많았어요.geudong-an jeongmal gosaeng manasseoyo.You worked very hard all this time.
- 서연 Seo-yeon앞으로도 잘 부탁해요.ap-eurodo jal butak-haeyo.Please support me in the future too.
