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Vocabulary
기뻐하다

A1 verb #3,500 most common 7 min read

기뻐하다

gippeohada Top 3,500

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips 기뻐하다 in 30 Seconds

Explanation 기뻐하다 in your Level:

At the A1 level, you should learn '기뻐하다' as a basic word to describe when other people are happy. You already know '기쁘다' (to be glad) for yourself. Now, you add '-어하다' to talk about your friends, family, or characters in a story. Focus on simple present and past tense forms like '기뻐해요' and '기뻐했어요'. At this stage, just remember: Me = 기뻐요, Other Person = 기뻐해요. It's a key step in moving beyond just talking about yourself to describing the world around you. You will use it when talking about giving gifts or hearing good news from a friend. For example, '친구가 선물을 받고 기뻐해요' (My friend receives a gift and is happy). This level focuses on identifying the emotion and applying the correct grammatical ending for a third person.

At the A2 level, you begin to use '기뻐하다' in more complex sentences using connectives. You can explain *why* someone is happy using the '-어서/아서' pattern (e.g., '시험에 합격해서 기뻐해요'). You also start learning the honorific form '기뻐하시다', which is crucial for showing respect to elders or superiors in Korean culture. You should be able to distinguish between '기뻐하다' (joy from news) and '즐거워하다' (having fun). You might use it in short diary entries or when describing a picture of a celebration. Understanding the transition from an adjective to a verb becomes more intuitive as you see other emotion words follow the same pattern (슬프다 -> 슬퍼하다, 좋다 -> 좋아하다).

At the B1 level, you can use '기뻐하다' in various tenses and moods, including the continuous form '기뻐하고 있다' and the future/conjectural form '기뻐할 거예요'. You can handle more nuanced particles, such as using '기뻐해 주다' to express that someone is happy *for* you. This is a very common and warm expression in Korean. You also start to recognize '기뻐하다' in written texts like news reports or simple literature. You understand that this word implies an outward expression, and you can contrast it with '행복하다' when discussing long-term versus short-term happiness. You can also form complex sentences like '부모님이 기뻐하시는 모습을 보니 저도 기뻐요' (Seeing my parents look happy makes me happy too).

At the B2 level, you use '기뻐하다' with a high degree of naturalness. You are comfortable with the modifier form '기뻐하는' to describe nouns (e.g., '기뻐하는 사람들'). You can use it in professional settings to describe a team's reaction to a successful project. You understand the subtle difference between '기뻐하다' and more formal synonyms like '환호하다' (to cheer) or '희열을 느끼다' (to feel joy/ecstasy). You can discuss cultural aspects, such as why Koreans might be modest in '기뻐하다' in certain social situations to maintain 'Chemyeon' (face). Your vocabulary is expanding to include related idioms and common phrases like '진심으로 기뻐하다' (to sincerely rejoice).

At the C1 level, you appreciate the literary and nuanced uses of '기뻐하다'. You can use it to analyze characters in Korean literature, discussing how their '기뻐하는' actions reveal their underlying motivations. You are proficient in using the word in highly formal written contexts, such as academic papers on psychology or sociology, or in poetic contexts. You understand how the word can be used metaphorically. You can also differentiate it from very specific emotional verbs like '흐뭇해하다' (to be gratified) or '벅차오르다' (to be overwhelmed with joy). You can speak fluently about complex emotional states where '기뻐하다' might be mixed with other emotions like relief or sadness.

At the C2 level, you have a near-native grasp of '기뻐하다'. You can use it in sophisticated wordplay or to explain the linguistic evolution of the '-어/아하다' suffix. You understand the historical usage of the word in classical Korean literature and how its frequency and connotation have shifted over time. You can use it in high-level debates about emotional expression across cultures. You are also capable of using very rare, high-level synonyms and can explain the exact emotional 'texture' that '기뻐하다' provides compared to other verbs. Your usage is indistinguishable from a native speaker, including the perfect application of various speech levels and honorifics in any given social context.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

기뻐하다 in 30 Seconds

기뻐하다 is a verb meaning 'to rejoice' or 'to show happiness.' It is the standard way to describe someone else being happy in Korean.
It comes from the adjective 기쁘다 (to be glad). Adding -어하다 turns it into a verb that describes observable actions and behavior.
Use it for 3rd person subjects (friends, family, etc.). For yourself, you usually use the adjective 기쁘다 unless you are narrating your actions.
Commonly used when someone receives good news, a gift, or achieves success. It is often paired with the honorific suffix -시- (기뻐하시다).

The Korean verb 기뻐하다 (gippeohada) is a foundational word in the Korean language, primarily used to describe the outward expression of joy, gladness, or happiness. To understand this word deeply, one must first understand its relationship with the adjective 기쁘다 (gippeuda). In Korean grammar, there is a distinct difference between describing one's own internal feelings and describing the observable emotions of others. While 기쁘다 is typically used by the speaker to express their own internal state of being glad, 기뻐하다 is the active verb form used to describe someone else showing that they are happy, or to describe the act of rejoicing itself.

Grammatical Function: It is a transitive verb formed by adding the suffix '-어/아하다' to the adjective stem '기쁘-'. This transformation allows the speaker to describe objective, observable emotional actions rather than subjective internal states.
Social Nuance: Using this word implies that the happiness is visible. It is not just a quiet internal feeling; it involves smiling, laughing, celebrating, or showing through body language that one is pleased with a situation.

아이들이 선물을 받고 아주 기뻐하고 있어요. (The children are very happy/rejoicing after receiving the gifts.)

When do people use it? You will hear this word most often in storytelling, reporting news, or describing the reactions of friends and family. For instance, if you tell your parents that you got a job, you would say, "부모님이 정말 기뻐하셨어요" (My parents were really happy). It is less common to use this about yourself in the first person unless you are describing your reaction as an objective event, such as "I rejoiced at the news." However, in 90% of daily conversations, it serves as the primary way to talk about other people's happiness.

온 국민이 승리 소식에 기뻐했습니다. (The whole nation rejoiced at the news of victory.)

Contextual Depth: The word carries a sense of 'being glad' about a specific event or achievement. It is slightly more formal and specific than '행복하다' (to be happy/blessed in life), focusing on the immediate reaction to good news.

그녀는 꽃을 보자마자 어린아이처럼 기뻐했다. (As soon as she saw the flowers, she rejoiced like a child.)

합격 통지서를 받은 학생이 눈물을 흘리며 기뻐하고 있었다. (The student who received the acceptance letter was rejoicing with tears.)

우리는 모두 당신의 성공을 진심으로 기뻐합니다. (We all sincerely rejoice in your success.)

Using 기뻐하다 correctly requires an understanding of Korean sentence structure, particularly the use of particles and honorifics. Since it is a verb, it can take an object or be preceded by a reason for the joy. The most common pattern involves using the particle -를/을 to indicate what someone is happy about, or using -고 to connect it with a preceding action.

Direct Object Usage: When someone is happy about a specific thing, like a 'success' or 'news', you use the object particle: [Something]을/를 기뻐하다. Example: '성공을 기뻐하다' (To rejoice in success).
Reasoning with -어/아서: To say someone is happy *because* of something, use the clausal connective -어/아서. Example: '선물을 받아서 기뻐해요' (They are happy because they received a gift).

선생님께서 학생들의 성적 향상을 진심으로 기뻐하셨습니다.

In formal settings, you will often see the honorific suffix -시- added to the verb stem, resulting in 기뻐하시다. This is essential when the subject of the sentence is someone older or of higher status, such as a teacher, boss, or grandparent. For example, if you are talking about your grandmother being happy, you must say '할머니께서 기뻐하세요' rather than '기뻐해요'.

그는 친구의 결혼 소식을 듣고 자기 일처럼 기뻐해 주었다.

Modifying Nouns: To use this word as an adjective describing a person, you use the modifier form: '기뻐하는 사람들' (People who are rejoicing/happy people).

마을 사람들은 풍년이 든 것을 다 함께 기뻐했습니다.

아버지는 제가 직접 만든 요리를 드시고 매우 기뻐하셨어요.

그녀의 성공을 시기하지 않고 진심으로 기뻐해 주는 친구가 필요하다.

You will encounter 기뻐하다 in a variety of real-world contexts, from emotional K-dramas to formal news broadcasts. In K-dramas, it’s often used in dialogue when a character notices another person's reaction. For example, a male lead might say to the female lead, "네가 그렇게 기뻐하니까 나도 좋다" (Since you are so happy, I am happy too). This highlights the observable nature of the word; he is reacting to her visible joy.

In News and Media: Journalists use this word to describe public reactions to national events. '축구 팬들이 골 소식에 기뻐하고 있습니다' (Soccer fans are rejoicing at the news of a goal). It provides a descriptive, objective account of the crowd's emotion.

수상 소감을 말하며 배우는 팬들의 사랑에 눈물을 흘리며 기뻐했습니다.

In literature and webtoons, the word is used to narrate the internal thoughts of a character observing another. You might read a line like "그는 그녀가 기뻐하는 모습을 보며 안도했다" (He felt relieved seeing her look happy). This usage emphasizes the visual aspect of the emotion. In religious contexts, such as in Korean churches, '기뻐하다' is frequently used in hymns and prayers, such as '주님을 기뻐하라' (Rejoice in the Lord), where it takes on a more spiritual and profound meaning of celebration and worship.

모두가 한마음으로 우승을 기뻐하며 축제를 즐겼습니다.

Daily Social Life: When you give a gift to a Korean friend, you might ask later, "친구가 선물을 기뻐했어요?" (Did your friend like/rejoice over the gift?). It’s a polite and natural way to inquire about someone's reaction.

아이의 첫 걸음마에 온 가족이 기뻐하며 박수를 쳤다.

전 세계 팬들이 그의 복귀를 기뻐하고 있습니다.

그가 복권에 당첨되었다는 사실을 알고 친구들은 진심으로 기뻐해 주었다.

The most frequent mistake learners make with 기뻐하다 is confusing it with its adjective counterpart 기쁘다. In English, we use the word "happy" for both ourselves and others (e.g., "I am happy" and "He is happy"). However, in Korean, you must switch forms. A common error is saying "그는 매우 기뻐요" (He is happy), which sounds unnatural or grammatically incorrect in most contexts. Instead, you must say "그는 매우 기뻐해요."

Mistake 1: Subject-Verb Mismatch: Using '기뻐하다' for yourself in a simple statement like "저는 기뻐해요" (I rejoice) is rare and often sounds like you are narrating your own life as an outsider. Use '저는 기뻐요' (I am glad) instead.
Mistake 2: Particle Confusion: Using the subject particle -이/가 with the object of joy. Since '기뻐하다' is a verb, the thing that makes someone happy should often take the object particle -을/를. For example, '합격을 기뻐하다' is correct, while '합격이 기뻐하다' is incorrect.

❌ 저의 친구가 기뻐요. (Wrong for 3rd person)
✅ 저의 친구가 기뻐해요. (Correct for 3rd person)

Another mistake involves the distinction between '기뻐하다' and '행복하다'. '행복하다' (to be happy) is an adjective that can be used for both 1st and 3rd persons without changing its form (though '행복해하다' also exists for more active expression). Learners often use '기뻐하다' to describe a general state of well-being, but '기뻐하다' is specifically about the *joy* resulting from a specific event. If you want to say someone has a happy life, '기뻐하다' is the wrong choice; '행복하다' is much better.

❌ 저는 이 소식을 기뻐해요. (Sounds like a robot narrating its own reaction)
✅ 저는 이 소식이 기뻐요. (Natural way to say 'I am glad about this news')

Honorific Neglect: Forgetting to use '기뻐하시다' when talking about elders. Saying '할아버지가 기뻐해요' is considered rude. Use '할아버지께서 기뻐하세요'.

❌ 사장님이 기뻐했다.
✅ 사장님이 기뻐하셨다.

Korean has a rich variety of words to describe joy and happiness. Knowing the subtle differences between 기뻐하다 and its alternatives will help you sound more like a native speaker. The most important comparison is with 즐거워하다 (to enjoy/be merry) and 행복해하다 (to be happy/feel blessed).

기뻐하다 vs. 즐거워하다: 기뻐하다 is a reaction to good news or a positive outcome (e.g., winning a race). 즐거워하다 is about enjoying an activity or having fun (e.g., dancing at a party).
기뻐하다 vs. 행복해하다: 기뻐하다 is often momentary and event-based. 행복해하다 describes a deeper, more lasting state of contentment and well-being.

아이들이 공원에서 즐거워하고 있습니다. (The children are having fun/enjoying themselves at the park.)

Another common synonym is 반가워하다, which means to be glad to see someone or something after a period of time. While '기뻐하다' is broad joy, '반가워하다' is specifically the joy of a reunion or a welcome event. For example, if you visit your hometown, you would say "친구들이 나를 반가워했다" (My friends were glad to see me). Additionally, 흐뭇해하다 describes a feeling of being pleased or satisfied, often with a gentle smile, usually when seeing something heartwarming or successful.

어머니는 아들의 성적표를 보고 흐뭇해하셨다. (Mother was pleased/satisfied looking at her son's report card.)

Comparisons At a Glance

기뻐하다: Reaction to good news/achievements.
즐거워하다: Having a good time/fun during an activity.
반가워하다: Happiness of meeting/welcoming.
환희에 차다: To be filled with ecstasy (very formal/literary).

그들은 오랜만의 재회를 반가워하며 서로를 껴안았다.

관중들은 선수의 멋진 플레이에 환호했습니다.

How Formal Is It?

Fun Fact

In Middle Korean, the root was '기쁘-' or '깃브-', and it was often used in religious and courtly texts to describe the joy of the heavens or the king. The transformation into the verb form using '-어하다' became more standardized as modern grammar rules for 1st vs 3rd person subjects were solidified.

Pronunciation Guide

UK /ki.p͈ʌ.ɦa.da/

US /ki.p͈ʌ.ɦa.da/

In Korean, syllables generally have equal length and weight, but the tense 'pp' in 'ppeo' naturally draws more attention.

Rhymes With

슬퍼하다 (seulpeohada) 예뻐하다 (yeppeohada) 나빠하다 (nappahada) 바빠하다 (bappahada) 아파하다 (apahada) 괴로워하다 (goerowohada) 미워하다 (miwohada) 아쉬워하다 (aswiwohada)

Common Errors

Pronouncing 'pp' like a soft English 'p'. It must be tense.
Aspirating the 'k' in 'ki' too much.
Slurring the 'ha' and 'da' together.
Confusing the vowel 'eo' (ㅓ) with 'o' (ㅗ).
Not giving enough weight to the 'pp' sound.

Difficulty Rating

Reading 1/5

The word is very common in basic texts and children's books. Easy to recognize.

Writing 3/5

Requires understanding the -어하다 rule and when to use it versus the adjective form.

Speaking 2/5

Once the distinction between 1st and 3rd person is learned, it is easy to use.

Listening 1/5

The pronunciation is clear and it appears frequently in dramas and news.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

기쁘다 (To be glad) 하다 (To do) 친구 (Friend) 선물 (Gift) 좋다 (To be good/like)

Learn Next

슬퍼하다 (To be sad) 아쉬워하다 (To feel bad/sorry) 좋아하다 (To like) 미워하다 (To hate) 부러워하다 (To envy)

Advanced

환희 (Ecstasy) 희열 (Joy) 축복 (Blessing) 환호 (Cheer) 만끽하다 (To enjoy to the fullest)

Grammar to Know

Adjective + -어/아하다

슬프다 -> 슬퍼하다, 무섭다 -> 무서워하다

Honorific -시-

기뻐하다 -> 기뻐하시다

Reason Connective -어서/아서

선물을 받아서 기뻐해요.

Auxiliary Verb -해 주다

내 일처럼 기뻐해 주다.

Continuous -고 있다

아이들이 기뻐하고 있어요.

Examples by Level

친구가 선물을 받고 기뻐해요.

My friend is happy receiving a gift.

Uses the present tense '-해요' for a third-person subject.

동생이 사탕을 보고 기뻐해요.

My younger sibling is happy seeing the candy.

Subject is '동생' (sibling), so '기뻐해요' is used.

엄마가 기뻐해요.

Mom is happy.

Simple subject-verb structure.

강아지가 주인을 보고 기뻐해요.

The puppy is happy to see its owner.

Even for animals, '기뻐하다' describes observable joy.

사람들이 기뻐해요.

People are happy.

Plural subject '사람들'.

그는 선물을 기뻐했어요.

He was happy with the gift.

Past tense '-했어요'.

아이가 노래를 부르며 기뻐해요.

The child is happy while singing a song.

'-며' indicates simultaneous action.

할머니가 기뻐하세요.

Grandmother is happy.

Uses the honorific '-하세요'.

합격 소식을 듣고 부모님이 정말 기뻐하셨어요.

My parents were really happy to hear the news of passing.

Honorific past tense '-하셨어요'.

친구가 제 선물을 기뻐해서 저도 좋아요.

Since my friend liked my gift, I am glad too.

'-어서' shows the reason for the speaker's feeling.

선생님께서 학생들의 성공을 기뻐하십니다.

The teacher rejoices in the students' success.

Formal honorific '-하십니다'.

그는 새 차를 사고 매우 기뻐했어요.

He was very happy after buying a new car.

Sequential action using the base meaning.

모두가 생일 파티에서 기뻐하고 있었어요.

Everyone was being happy at the birthday party.

Past continuous '-하고 있었어요'.

아버지는 제가 쓴 편지를 보고 기뻐하셨어요.

Father was happy to see the letter I wrote.

Honorific past tense.

그녀는 꽃을 받고 어린아이처럼 기뻐하네요.

She is happy like a child after receiving flowers.

Exclamatory ending '-네요'.

동생이 1등을 해서 온 가족이 기뻐했습니다.

The whole family rejoiced because my sibling got 1st place.

Formal past tense '-했습니다'.

제 친구는 항상 다른 사람의 행복을 진심으로 기뻐해 줘요.

My friend always sincerely rejoices in other people's happiness for them.

'-해 주다' adds the nuance of doing it 'for' someone.

기뻐하는 아이들의 모습을 보니 마음이 따뜻해지네요.

Seeing the happy children makes my heart feel warm.

Modifier form '기뻐하는'.

그는 겉으로는 기뻐하는 척했지만 속으로는 슬펐다.

He pretended to be happy on the outside, but he was sad inside.

'-는 척하다' means 'to pretend to'.

우리는 당신의 복귀를 모두가 기뻐하고 있습니다.

We are all rejoicing at your return.

Present continuous '-하고 있습니다'.

그녀가 그렇게 기뻐할 줄은 몰랐어요.

I didn't know she would be that happy.

'-을 줄 몰랐다' indicates unexpectedness.

어머니는 제가 만든 음식을 드시고 매우 기뻐하셨을 거예요.

Mother must have been very happy after eating the food I made.

Future/conjecture '-었을 거예요'.

선물을 받고 기뻐할 친구를 생각하니 저도 기뻐요.

Thinking of my friend who will be happy receiving the gift makes me happy too.

Future modifier '기뻐할'.

그 소식을 들으면 모두가 기뻐할 것입니다.

Everyone will rejoice when they hear that news.

Formal future tense '-할 것입니다'.

정부의 새로운 정책 발표에 많은 시민들이 기뻐하고 있습니다.

Many citizens are rejoicing at the government's announcement of the new policy.

Used in a formal journalistic context.

그는 동료의 승진을 자기 일처럼 기뻐해 주는 따뜻한 사람이다.

He is a warm person who rejoices in his colleague's promotion as if it were his own.

'자기 일처럼' adds deep empathetic nuance.

아이들이 뛰어노는 모습을 보며 부모님은 흐뭇하게 기뻐하셨다.

Watching the children run and play, the parents rejoiced with satisfaction.

Combines '흐뭇하게' with '기뻐하다' for detail.

우승컵을 들어 올리며 선수들은 눈물을 흘리며 기뻐했다.

Lifting the trophy, the players rejoiced with tears.

Descriptive narrative style.

그녀는 팬들의 열띤 응원에 진심으로 기뻐하며 화답했다.

She sincerely rejoiced at the fans' enthusiastic cheering and responded.

'-하며' connects two simultaneous actions.

어려운 이웃을 돕는 일에 많은 이들이 기뻐하며 동참했습니다.

Many people rejoiced and participated in helping neighbors in need.

Formal social context.

실패를 딛고 일어선 그의 성공을 온 마을이 기뻐했다.

The whole village rejoiced at his success after overcoming failure.

Uses '온 마을' as a collective subject.

그가 무사히 돌아왔다는 소식에 가족들은 기뻐 어쩔 줄 몰랐다.

At the news that he returned safely, the family was so happy they didn't know what to do.

'-어 어쩔 줄 모르다' expresses extreme emotion.

그는 자신의 학문적 성과가 인정받는 것을 보고 내심 기뻐하는 눈치였다.

He seemed inwardly happy to see his academic achievements being recognized.

'내심' and '눈치였다' add psychological depth.

예술가는 대중이 자신의 작품을 이해해 주는 것을 가장 기뻐한다.

An artist rejoices most when the public understands their work.

Generalized truth statement using plain form.

비록 몸은 힘들었지만, 남을 도울 수 있다는 사실에 그는 기뻐하며 웃었다.

Although his body was tired, he laughed, rejoicing in the fact that he could help others.

Contrastive structure using '비록 ~지만'.

그녀는 라이벌의 실수에 기뻐하는 대신 진심으로 걱정해 주는 성숙함을 보였다.

Instead of rejoicing at her rival's mistake, she showed maturity by sincerely worrying about them.

'-는 대신' used for comparison of actions.

오랜 가뭄 끝에 내리는 단비를 보며 농부들은 춤이라도 출 듯이 기뻐했다.

Seeing the sweet rain after a long drought, the farmers rejoiced as if they would dance.

Simile '-ㄹ 듯이' adds vividness.

그의 당선 소식에 지지자들은 광장에 모여 밤새도록 기뻐하며 축하했다.

At the news of his election, supporters gathered in the square and rejoiced/celebrated all night long.

Describing a large-scale social event.

아이의 천진난만한 웃음을 보며 사람들은 세상의 시름을 잊고 함께 기뻐했다.

Watching the child's innocent laughter, people forgot the world's worries and rejoiced together.

Literary and emotional tone.

우리는 인류의 평화와 번영을 위해 다 함께 기뻐할 날이 오기를 고대합니다.

We look forward to the day when we can all rejoice together for human peace and prosperity.

High-level formal expression of hope.

인간은 타인의 불행을 은근히 기뻐하는 잔인한 본성을 지니고 있기도 하다.

Humans also possess a cruel nature that secretly rejoices in the misfortunes of others.

Refers to the concept of Schadenfreude (샘통).

작가는 소설 속 주인공이 시련을 극복하고 진정으로 기뻐하는 순간을 섬세하게 묘사했다.

The author delicately depicted the moment when the protagonist overcomes trials and truly rejoices.

Literary analysis context.

국가적 재난 상황에서 국민들이 서로를 격려하며 작은 희망에도 기뻐하는 모습은 감동적이었다.

It was moving to see citizens encouraging each other and rejoicing even in small hopes during a national disaster.

Complex sociological description.

그의 철학은 물질적 풍요보다는 정신적 가치의 실현을 기뻐하는 삶을 지향한다.

His philosophy aims for a life that rejoices in the realization of spiritual values rather than material abundance.

Abstract philosophical discussion.

역사학자들은 그 유물의 발견이 고대사 연구의 획기적인 전환점이 될 것이라며 기뻐했다.

Historians rejoiced, saying that the discovery of the artifact would be a groundbreaking turning point in the study of ancient history.

Indirect quotation '-라며' combined with the verb.

그녀는 자신의 희생으로 타인이 행복해질 수 있다면 그것만으로도 충분히 기뻐할 수 있다고 말했다.

She said that if others could be happy through her sacrifice, she could rejoice sufficiently in that alone.

Conditional and self-reflective usage.

우리는 비극 속에서도 피어나는 인간애의 위대함을 기뻐하며 미래를 설계해야 한다.

We must design the future while rejoicing in the greatness of humanity that blooms even amidst tragedy.

Rhetorical and visionary tone.

그의 시는 일상의 사소한 것들에서 기뻐하는 법을 잊어버린 현대인들에게 큰 울림을 준다.

His poetry gives a great resonance to modern people who have forgotten how to rejoice in the trivial things of daily life.

Critical and reflective usage.

Common Collocations

진심으로 기뻐하다

매우 기뻐하다

합격을 기뻐하다

눈물을 흘리며 기뻐하다

함께 기뻐하다

어쩔 줄 모르게 기뻐하다

속으로 기뻐하다

어린아이처럼 기뻐하다

성공을 기뻐하다

소식을 듣고 기뻐하다

Common Phrases

기뻐해 주세요

— Please be happy for me/us. Often used when sharing good news.

저 드디어 취직했어요! 기뻐해 주세요.

기뻐할 일이다

— It is something to be happy about. Used to highlight a positive event.

나라에 경사가 났으니 정말 기뻐할 일입니다.

기뻐하는 모습

— The sight/look of someone being happy.

그녀의 기뻐하는 모습을 보니 저도 행복해요.

진심으로 기뻐해 주다

— To sincerely rejoice for someone else's sake.

내 친구는 언제나 내 성공을 진심으로 기뻐해 준다.

기뻐서 어쩔 줄 모르다

— To be so happy that one doesn't know what to do.

그는 복권에 당첨되어 기뻐서 어쩔 줄 몰라 했다.

기뻐 날뛰는 아이들

— Children jumping for joy.

방학 소식에 기뻐 날뛰는 아이들이 보였다.

함께 기뻐해 주다

— To share in someone's joy.

슬픔은 나누면 반이 되고 기쁨은 나누면 배가 된다고 하니 함께 기뻐해 주세요.

기뻐할 겨를도 없이

— Without even having time to rejoice. Used when something else happens immediately.

그는 승리를 기뻐할 겨를도 없이 다음 경기를 준비했다.

마음껏 기뻐하다

— To rejoice to one's heart's content.

오늘만큼은 모든 걱정을 잊고 마음껏 기뻐합시다.

기뻐할 소식

— News to be happy about; joyful news.

여러분에게 기뻐할 소식을 하나 전해 드립니다.

Often Confused With

기뻐하다 vs 기쁘다

기쁘다 is an adjective for the speaker's own feelings. 기뻐하다 is a verb for others' observable joy.

기뻐하다 vs 즐겁다

즐겁다 is about having a good time/fun, whereas 기쁘다/기뻐하다 is about being glad/happy about something.

기뻐하다 vs 행복하다

행복하다 describes a general state of happiness or being blessed, not just a reaction to a specific event.

Idioms & Expressions

"입이 귀에 걸리다"

— To have a grin from ear to ear. Often used alongside 기뻐하다.

그는 기뻐서 입이 귀에 걸렸다.

Informal

"어깨춤을 추다"

— To dance with one's shoulders in joy. Describes someone very happy.

좋은 소식에 절로 어깨춤을 추며 기뻐했다.

Neutral/Traditional

"날아갈 듯이 기뻐하다"

— To be so happy as if one could fly.

합격 소식을 듣고 날아갈 듯이 기뻐했다.

Neutral

"세상을 다 얻은 듯 기뻐하다"

— To be as happy as if one had gained the whole world.

첫 아이가 태어나자 그는 세상을 다 얻은 듯 기뻐했다.

Literary

"춤이라도 출 기세다"

— To look as if one is about to start dancing with joy.

그는 너무 기뻐서 춤이라도 출 기세였다.

Informal

"입을 다물지 못하다"

— To be unable to close one's mouth (due to joy or surprise).

깜짝 선물을 받고 너무 기뻐서 입을 다물지 못했다.

Neutral

"싱글벙글하다"

— To be all smiles; to beam with joy.

그는 아침부터 기뻐서 싱글벙글하고 있다.

Informal

"기쁨의 눈물을 흘리다"

— To shed tears of joy.

그녀는 우승 소감에서 기쁨의 눈물을 흘리며 기뻐했다.

Neutral

"가슴이 벅차오르다"

— To be overwhelmed with emotion/joy.

성공한 아들의 모습을 보니 가슴이 벅차오르며 기뻤다.

Literary

"덩실덩실 춤을 추다"

— To dance joyfully and rhythmically.

할아버지는 손주의 재롱에 기뻐서 덩실덩실 춤을 추셨다.

Traditional

Easily Confused

기뻐하다 vs 기쁘다

Both mean 'happy' in English.

기쁘다 is an adjective (state), 기뻐하다 is a verb (action). Use 기쁘다 for 'I' and 기뻐하다 for 'Others'.

나는 기쁘다 (I am glad). 친구는 기뻐한다 (My friend is glad).

기뻐하다 vs 즐거워하다

Both describe positive emotions.

즐거워하다 is about enjoying an activity. 기뻐하다 is about being glad about news/results.

파티에서 즐거워하다 (Enjoying at a party). 합격을 기뻐하다 (Rejoicing in passing).

기뻐하다 vs 반가워하다

Both involve being glad.

반가워하다 is specifically for the joy of meeting someone or receiving a welcome thing.

친구를 반가워하다 (To be glad to see a friend).

기뻐하다 vs 흐뭇해하다

Both mean being pleased.

흐뭇해하다 is a quiet, satisfied feeling. 기뻐하다 can be more expressive.

성적표를 보고 흐뭇해하다 (Being pleased with a report card).

기뻐하다 vs 좋아하다

Both mean positive feelings.

좋아하다 usually means 'to like' something. 기뻐하다 is the specific emotion of joy.

사과를 좋아하다 (To like apples). 우승을 기뻐하다 (To rejoice in victory).

Sentence Patterns

Subject이/가 기뻐해요.

친구가 기뻐해요.

Subject이/가 Object을/를 기뻐해요.

동생이 선물을 기뻐해요.

Subject이/가 Reason-어서 기뻐해요.

부모님이 제가 와서 기뻐해요.

Subject이/가 기뻐하는 Noun

기뻐하는 아이들을 보세요.

Subject이/가 기뻐해 주다

그는 내 성공을 기뻐해 주었다.

Noun을/를 기뻐할 일이다

이것은 모두가 기뻐할 일입니다.

A1-C2

Subject이/가 기뻐하시다 (Honorific)

선생님이 기뻐하세요.

B1-C2

기뻐서 어쩔 줄 모르다

그녀는 기뻐서 어쩔 줄 몰라 했다.

Word Family

Nouns

기쁨 (gippeum) - Joy/Gladness

기꺼움 (gikkeoum) - Willingness/Gladness

Verbs

기뻐하다 (gippeohada) - To rejoice/show joy

즐거워하다 (jeulgeowohada) - To enjoy

기뻐해 주다 (gippeohae juda) - To be happy for someone

Adjectives

기쁘다 (gippeuda) - To be glad/happy

기꺼이 (gikkeoi) - Gladly (adverbial form of an adjective)

환희 (hwanhui) - Ecstasy

경사 (gyeongsa) - Happy event

축하 (chukha) - Celebration

행복 (haengbok) - Happiness

즐거움 (jeulgeoum) - Pleasure

How to Use It

frequency

Very High. It is one of the top 500 most used verbs in Korean.

Common Mistakes

Using '기뻐요' for a friend. → 친구는 기뻐해요.
You cannot use the adjective form '기쁘다' for a third person in a simple statement. You must use the verb form '기뻐하다'.
Using '기뻐하다' for yourself in daily speech. → 저는 기뻐요.
Saying '저는 기뻐해요' sounds like you are observing yourself from the outside. Use '기뻐요' to express your own feeling.
Forgetting honorifics for elders. → 할머니께서 기뻐하셨어요.
When the subject is an elder, you must use the honorific suffix '-시-'.
Confusing '기뻐하다' with '즐거워하다'. → 아이들이 게임을 즐거워해요.
If they are having fun playing, use '즐거워하다'. If they are happy because they won, use '기뻐하다'.
Using the wrong particle for the object of joy. → 성공을 기뻐하다.
Since '기뻐하다' is a verb, the thing that causes the joy often takes the object particle '을/를'.

Tips

The Third-Person Rule

Always remember: Adjectives for 'I', Verbs (-어하다) for 'He/She/They'. This is one of the most important rules for emotional words in Korean.

Sharing the Joy

Koreans value '기뻐해 주는 마음' (a heart that rejoices for others). Using '기뻐해 주다' instead of just '기뻐하다' makes you sound much more empathetic and native.

Related Words

Learn '슬퍼하다' (to be sad) alongside '기뻐하다'. They follow the exact same grammar rules and are perfect opposites.

Honorifics Matter

When talking about your parents or grandparents being happy, never forget the '-시-'! '기뻐하셨어요' is much better than '기뻐했어요'.

Descriptive Writing

Instead of just saying someone was happy, use '기뻐서 눈물을 흘렸다' (cried with joy) to make your stories more vivid.

Watch for Context

In dramas, when you hear '기뻐?', it's a question ('Are you happy?'). When you hear '기뻐해', it's a statement about someone else or a command.

Event-Based Joy

Use '기뻐하다' for specific milestones like birthdays, weddings, or passing exams. For general life satisfaction, stick to '행복하다'.

Reacting to News

If a friend tells you good news about someone else, you can say '그분이 정말 기뻐하시겠네요!' (That person must be so happy!).

Keep-a-Happy

Gippeo (Keep-a) + Hada (Do). Do keep a happy face for others! This helps link the sound to the meaning.

Don't Overthink

If you see someone smiling because of something good, '기뻐하다' is almost always the right word to describe them.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of 'Gippeo' (기뻐) as sounding like 'Keep-a' and 'Hada' as 'Do'. You 'keep a' smile and 'do' the action of being happy for someone else.

Visual Association

Imagine a gift box opening and a bright light (joy) coming out of it while people around are clapping. The act of clapping is '기뻐하다'.

Word Web

기쁘다 (Internal) 기뻐하다 (External) 선물 (Gift) 합격 (Passing) 성공 (Success) 웃음 (Laughter) 축하 (Celebration) 친구 (Friend)

Challenge

Try to observe three people today and describe their reactions using '기뻐해요'. For example, if someone gets a seat on the bus, think: '저 사람이 기뻐해요'.

Word Origin

The word is a combination of the adjective root '기쁘-' (to be glad) and the auxiliary verb '-어하다'. The root '기쁘-' has been used in Korean for centuries to denote internal satisfaction and gladness. The suffix '-어하다' is a productive grammatical tool that converts an adjective describing a state or feeling into a verb describing the outward expression or objective existence of that feeling in another person.

Original meaning: To act or behave in a way that shows one is glad.

Koreanic

Cultural Context

Be careful not to use '기뻐하다' in situations where someone's success might be sensitive to others (e.g., bragging).

In English, 'happy' is used universally. In Korean, the distinction between '기쁘다' and '기뻐하다' is a common hurdle for English speakers who are not used to changing word forms based on the subject's perspective.

The song '기뻐하며 경배하세' (Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee) is a famous hymn translation in Korea. K-drama scenes where parents cry while '기뻐하다' after their child passes the bar exam are a staple of Korean media. The phrase '기쁨을 나누면 배가 된다' (Sharing joy doubles it) is a widely used proverb.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

At a Graduation

졸업을 기뻐하다
부모님이 기뻐하시다
친구들과 함께 기뻐하다
진심으로 기뻐해 주다

Receiving a Gift

선물을 기뻐하다
아이가 기뻐해요
기뻐하는 모습
매우 기뻐하며 받다

Sports and Games

승리를 기뻐하다
관중들이 기뻐해요
골을 넣고 기뻐하다
팀원들이 함께 기뻐하다

Job/Exam Success

합격을 기뻐하다
취직을 기뻐하다
가족들이 기뻐하셨어요
눈물을 흘리며 기뻐하다

Family Reunions

만남을 기뻐하다
할머니가 기뻐하세요
서로 기뻐하며 인사하다
반가워하며 기뻐하다

Conversation Starters

"친구가 선물을 받고 많이 기뻐했어요?"

"부모님이 당신의 소식을 듣고 얼마나 기뻐하셨나요?"

"어제 경기에서 선수들이 기뻐하는 모습을 보셨어요?"

"누군가가 당신의 성공을 진심으로 기뻐해 준 적이 있나요?"

"아이들이 왜 그렇게 기뻐하고 있는지 아세요?"

Journal Prompts

오늘 다른 사람이 기뻐하는 모습을 본 적이 있나요? 그 상황을 묘사해 보세요.

당신이 가장 최근에 다른 사람의 성공을 진심으로 기뻐해 주었던 일에 대해 써 보세요.

부모님이 당신 때문에 가장 기뻐하셨던 순간은 언제였나요?

사람들이 기뻐할 때 어떤 행동을 하는지 관찰해서 적어 보세요.

미래에 당신의 성공을 보고 누가 가장 기뻐할 것 같나요?

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

Generally, no. In natural Korean, you use '기쁘다' for yourself (e.g., '저는 기뻐요'). You only use '기뻐하다' for yourself in specific narrative contexts, like writing a story about yourself in the third person or describing your own observable reaction in the past: '나는 그 소식에 기뻐하며 춤을 췄다'.

It is a standard word used in all levels of formality. The formality is determined by the ending (e.g., 기뻐해, 기뻐해요, 기뻐합니다).

'기뻐하다' is a reaction to a specific event (like getting a gift). '행복해하다' is about a general state of being happy in life. You '기뻐하다' when you win a game, but you '행복해하다' when you have a loving family.

Since a teacher is an elder/superior, you must use honorifics: '선생님께서 기뻐하셨어요'.

Yes! If you see a dog wagging its tail and acting happy, you can say '강아지가 기뻐해요'.

Yes, it can. You can use the particle 을/를 to show what someone is happy about, like '성공을 기뻐하다' (to rejoice in success).

'즐거워하다' is 'to have fun' or 'to enjoy'. If children are playing and laughing, they are '즐거워하고 있어요'. If they just found out they are going to Disneyland, they are '기뻐하고 있어요'.

The past tense is '기뻐했다' (plain), '기뻐했어요' (polite), or '기뻐했습니다' (formal).

Yes, '기쁨' is the noun meaning 'joy' or 'gladness'. For example, '기쁨을 나누다' (to share joy).

In Korean grammar, you cannot directly state the internal feelings of another person because you cannot truly 'know' them. Adding '-어하다' turns the feeling into an 'observable behavior,' which is linguistically acceptable to describe for others.