축하합니다
12
Congratulations
Phrase in 30 Seconds
The essential Korean phrase for saying 'Congratulations' in any formal or polite setting.
- Means: 'I congratulate you' or 'Congratulations' in a polite, formal way.
- Used in: Birthdays, weddings, graduations, and job promotions.
- Don't confuse: Don't use it for small favors; it's for significant happy events.
Explanation at your level:
意思
Used to offer felicitations for an achievement or happy event.
文化背景
When congratulating someone on a wedding, it is common to give 'Chuk-ui-geum' (money). The amount should be an odd number (50,000, 70,000) or a round 100,000, as odd numbers are considered lucky. The 'First Birthday' (Doljanchi) is a massive celebration where the phrase is used constantly. It's historically significant because it marked a child surviving the difficult first year of life. In Korean office culture, if you are congratulated on a promotion, you are often expected to host a 'Hoesik' (company dinner) to share your joy with the team. Koreans use 'Chuk-ha' even for small wins like 'leveling up' in a video game or getting a hard-to-get restaurant reservation, often using the slang 'ㅊㅋ'.
The 'Sincere' Add-on
Add '진심으로' (jinsimeuro) before the phrase to sound 10x more sincere and fluent.
Watch the Ending
Never say 'Chuk-ha-hae' to your teacher or boss; it's a major politeness fail.
意思
Used to offer felicitations for an achievement or happy event.
The 'Sincere' Add-on
Add '진심으로' (jinsimeuro) before the phrase to sound 10x more sincere and fluent.
Watch the Ending
Never say 'Chuk-ha-hae' to your teacher or boss; it's a major politeness fail.
The Birthday Song
The lyrics are just 'Saeng-il chuk-ha hamnida' repeated. Learn it and you'll be the star of any party!
Writing it down
When writing a card, it's common to write '{축하|祝賀}드립니다' to show extra respect.
自我测试
Choose the most appropriate phrase to say to your boss who just had a baby.
부장님, 아기 탄생을 _______.
You must use the formal '-합니다' ending with a superior like a 'Bujang-nim' (Manager).
Fill in the blank with the correct particle and verb form for 'Congratulations on your graduation.'
졸업___ {축하|祝賀}______.
Graduation (졸업) ends in a consonant, so it takes '을'. The formal verb is '합니다'.
Match the phrase to the correct situation.
1. ㅊㅋㅊㅋ 2. {축하|祝賀}드립니다 3. {축하|祝賀}합니다
Slang is for friends, '드립니다' is for elders, and '합니다' is for general formal use.
Complete the dialogue.
민수: 저 이번에 장학금 받았어요! 지수: 정말요? ________!
Receiving a scholarship (장학금) is a major achievement that requires congratulations.
🎉 得分： /4
视觉学习工具
Formality Levels
常见问题
10 个问题No, for New Year's, Koreans say 'Saehae bok mani badeuseyo' (Receive much luck in the New Year).
'Chukhadeurimnida' is the humble form, used when you want to show extreme respect to someone much older or higher in rank.
Yes! Use 'ㅊㅋ' or 'ㅊㅋㅊㅋ'. It's the Korean equivalent of 'congrats'.
It's rare, but you can say 'Na jasin, chukhahae!' (Congrats to myself!) in a diary or a self-celebratory post.
Simply say 'Gamsahamnida' (Thank you).
Yes, but use a lighter tone or the informal version if it's a very small thing.
'Hamnida' is the formal style (Hapsyo-che), which is standard for this specific expression in public or formal settings.
A slight head nod or a small bow is appropriate when saying it to someone older or in a formal setting.
Yes, it is the perfect phrase for that situation.
It means 'to pray for and celebrate with a gift.'
相关表达
{축하|祝賀}드려요
specialized formI offer you my congratulations (humble)
{축하|祝賀}해
informalCongrats
경축
specialized formGreat Celebration
생일 {축하|祝賀}합니다
builds onHappy Birthday
박수를 보냅니다
similarI send you my applause
在哪里用
Friend's Birthday
A: 오늘 제 생일이에요. (Today is my birthday.)
B: 와! 생일 {축하|祝賀}합니다! (Wow! Happy birthday!)
Job Promotion
Employee: 부장님, 승진 {축하|祝賀}합니다. (Manager, congratulations on your promotion.)
Manager: 고마워요. 다들 수고했어요. (Thank you. Everyone worked hard.)
Wedding Ceremony
Guest: 결혼을 진심으로 {축하|祝賀}합니다. (I sincerely congratulate you on your wedding.)
Groom: 와주셔서 감사합니다. (Thank you for coming.)
Graduation
Parent: 우리 딸, 졸업 {축하|祝賀}한다! (My daughter, congrats on graduating!)
Daughter: 감사합니다, 엄마. (Thank you, Mom.)
New Business Opening
Neighbor: 식당 개업을 {축하|祝賀}합니다! (Congratulations on opening the restaurant!)
Owner: 네, 자주 놀러 오세요. (Yes, please come by often.)
Winning a Game
Friend A: 나 이번 게임에서 1등 했어! (I got 1st place in this game!)
Friend B: 대박! {축하|祝賀}해! (Awesome! Congrats!)
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Think of a 'Chukka-Chukka' train carrying party supplies to a celebration. 'Chukka' sounds like the train, and 'hamnida' is the polite engine.
Visual Association
Imagine a giant tiered cake with the word '{축하|祝賀}' written in golden icing, and people in suits bowing politely to the cake.
Rhyme
Chukka-hae for a friend, Chukka-hamnida to the end!
Story
You walk into a room and see your boss holding a trophy. You want to be polite, so you take a deep breath and say 'Chukhahamnida!' He smiles, and everyone starts eating cake. The 'Chuk' is the spark of the party.
Word Web
挑战
Go to a Korean social media post (like a celebrity's birthday) and type '{축하|祝賀}합니다!' as a comment.
In Other Languages
¡Felicidades!
Spanish has two distinct words for 'luck' vs 'achievement' congratulations.
Félicitations !
French uses a specific 'Good birthday' phrase instead of 'Congratulate birthday'.
Herzlichen Glückwunsch!
German focuses on the 'heartfelt' aspect, Korean on the 'politeness' level.
おめでとうございます (Omedetou gozaimasu)
Japanese uses an adjective-based root, while Korean uses a noun+verb root.
مبروك (Mabrouk)
Arabic has a religious 'blessing' connotation.
恭喜 (Gōngxǐ)
Chinese often repeats the word for emphasis, Korean conjugates it.
Congratulations
English lacks the strict hierarchical honorific levels.
Parabéns!
Portuguese 'Parabéns' is often used as a noun, Korean as a verb.
Easily Confused
Both are used after someone finishes a task.
Use 'Chukhahamnida' for the *result* (winning) and 'Sugohasyeossumnida' for the *effort* (working hard).
Learners sometimes say 'Thank you' when they mean 'Congratulations.'
If *they* did something good, say 'Chukhahamnida.' If they did something for *you*, say 'Gamsahamnida.'
常见问题 (10)
No, for New Year's, Koreans say 'Saehae bok mani badeuseyo' (Receive much luck in the New Year).
'Chukhadeurimnida' is the humble form, used when you want to show extreme respect to someone much older or higher in rank.
Yes! Use 'ㅊㅋ' or 'ㅊㅋㅊㅋ'. It's the Korean equivalent of 'congrats'.
It's rare, but you can say 'Na jasin, chukhahae!' (Congrats to myself!) in a diary or a self-celebratory post.
Simply say 'Gamsahamnida' (Thank you).
Yes, but use a lighter tone or the informal version if it's a very small thing.
'Hamnida' is the formal style (Hapsyo-che), which is standard for this specific expression in public or formal settings.
A slight head nod or a small bow is appropriate when saying it to someone older or in a formal setting.
Yes, it is the perfect phrase for that situation.
It means 'to pray for and celebrate with a gift.'
