What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of 결혼 (marriage), 축하 (congratulations) and the verb 해요 (to do/to celebrate).
Which one should you use?
You can use 결혼 축하해 to say "congrats on the wedding" in an informal way or 결혼 축하드립니다 and 결혼 축하합니다 for formal versions of "Happy Wedding".
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For a formal setting or when addressing someone much older, such as a boss or a senior relative, use 결혼 축하합니다. The form 결혼 축하해요 is a polite version of the informal phrase. For close friends or people younger than you, use the informal 결혼 축하해.
How do you pronounce it?
gyeolhon chukahaeyo
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often try to translate "happy wedding" literally as 행복한 결혼, but this sounds like a description of a marriage rather than a congratulatory greeting. Use 결혼 축하해요 to actually congratulate the couple.
Did you know?
- In a traditional Korean wedding, the groom would traditionally offer a wooden wild goose to the bride's family as a symbol of lifelong fidelity.
- When attending a wedding in Korea, your greeting is often secondary to the physical act of giving a 'congratulatory envelope' containing cash. It is customary to present this money at the reception desk upon arrival.
- In Korean, the word for marriage, 결혼, uses the character 結 which means 'to tie' or 'to knot'. This implies that marriage is the act of tying two lives or fates together.
Examples in context
- 김지수 씨와 이철호 씨의 결혼을 진심으로 축하합니다Sincere congratulations on the wedding of Mr. Kim Jisoo and Mr. Lee Cheolho.
- 새로운 시작이 행복과 사랑으로 가득하길 바라며, 평생 행복한 결혼 생활이 되시길 기원합니다May your new beginning be filled with happiness and love, and may you have a lifetime of joy in your married life.
- 두 분의 결혼 축하해요.du bun-ui gyeolhon chuk-ha-hae-yo.Happy wedding to you two.
- 진심으로 결혼 축하해요.jinsim-euro gyeolhon chuk-ha-hae-yo.I sincerely congratulate you on your wedding.
Example conversation
Seoyeon meets Dohyun at his wedding reception.
- 서연 Seo-yeon도현 씨, 결혼 축하해요!Dohyun ssi, gyeolhon chuk-ha-hae-yo!Dohyun, happy wedding!
- 도현 Do-hyeon고마워요, 서연 씨.gomawo-yo, Seoyeon ssi.Thank you, Seoyeon.
- 서연 Seo-yeon오늘 정말 멋져요.oneul jeongmal meot-jyeo-yo.You look really great today.
- 도현 Do-hyeon와줘서 정말 고마워요.wajwoseo jeongmal goma-wo-yo.Thank you so much for coming.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 결혼, CC BY-SA 4.0.
