A1 Expression तटस्थ

축하해요.

chukahaeyo.

Congratulations.

Phrase in 30 Seconds

Use '축하해요' to express congratulations to someone for their achievements or special events in a polite, standard way.

  • Means: Congratulations (polite form).
  • Used in: Birthdays, promotions, weddings, or passing exams.
  • Don't confuse: '축하해요' (polite) with '축하해' (very casual/intimate).
Smiling face + Clapping hands = Warm congratulations

Explanation at your level:

This is the most common way to say 'congratulations' in Korean. You use it when someone has a birthday or a good event.
It is a polite expression formed by the noun '축하' and the verb '하다'. It is appropriate for most social situations with people you are not extremely close to.
This phrase functions as a social marker of empathy and shared happiness. It is essential for maintaining polite social harmony in Korean culture, especially when acknowledging the achievements of colleagues or acquaintances.
The phrase demonstrates the Korean linguistic tendency to prioritize social hierarchy through verb endings. While the core meaning remains constant, the choice between '축하해요' and '축하드립니다' reflects the speaker's nuanced understanding of social distance and respect.
Beyond its literal meaning, '축하해요' acts as a performative speech act that solidifies social bonds. In professional contexts, it is often paired with honorifics to mitigate the potential awkwardness of expressing personal sentiment toward a superior, showcasing the complexity of Korean politeness strategies.
The expression is a quintessential example of the intersection between Sino-Korean lexical roots and modern polite morphology. It encapsulates the cultural imperative of 'jeong'—the communal sharing of emotional states—where the speaker actively participates in the listener's success, thereby reinforcing the collective social fabric through standardized, culturally-encoded linguistic rituals.

मतलब

Used to offer congratulations for an achievement or event.

मतलब

Used to offer congratulations for an achievement or event.

विज़ुअल लर्निंग टूल्स

कहाँ इस्तेमाल करें

🎂

Birthday

A: 생일 축하해요!

B: 고마워요.

neutral
💼

Promotion

A: 승진 축하해요!

B: 감사합니다.

formal

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of 'Choo-ha' as 'Choose a happy day' to celebrate.

Visual Association

Imagine a friend holding a cake and confetti falling as you say the word.

Story

Min-su passed his driving test. I walked up to him, smiled, and said '축하해요!' He beamed with joy, and we went to get coffee to celebrate.

Word Web

축하하다생일성공기쁨파티

चैलेंज

Write down 3 things you want to congratulate your friends for in Korean.

In Other Languages

Spanish high

¡Felicidades!

Korean requires conjugation based on social hierarchy.

French high

Félicitations

Korean uses the same word for both birthdays and achievements.

German moderate

Herzlichen Glückwunsch

German is more formal in its standard phrasing.

Japanese high

おめでとうございます

Japanese has more complex honorific structures.

Arabic moderate

مبروك (Mabrouk)

Arabic roots are religious; Korean roots are secular/Confucian.

Easily Confused

축하해요. बनाम 축하해 vs 축하해요

Learners mix up the politeness levels.

Use -요 for polite, drop it for friends.

अक्सर पूछे जाने वाले सवाल (1)

Yes, it is very common.

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