6 Ways to Say Congratulations in Korean
Written and reviewed by Jun and Jin, native Korean speakers
Published · How we write & review
After this page, you can congratulate anyone at the right level — from a casual 축하해 (chukhahae) to a formal 축하드립니다 — and name the occasion.
10-second answer
How do you say how to say congratulations in Korean?
The core word is always 축하 (chukha, "celebration/congratulation") — you just change the verb ending for formality: 축하드립니다 (chukhadeurimnida, very formal), 축하합니다 (chukhahamnida, formal default), 축하해요 (chukhahaeyo, polite-casual), or 축하해 (chukhahae, casual). Add a specific noun before it — 결혼 축하해 (gyeolhon chukhahae, "congrats on the wedding") — to sound more natural than a bare 축하해.
Quick check — did that land?
1. What core word does every "congratulations" phrase in Korean build on?
Don’t just say 축하해. Koreans often name the occasion first.
The Full Spectrum
| Phrase | Formality | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| 축하드립니다 (chukhadeurimnida) | Extra formal/humble | Congratulating a senior, boss, or someone you owe deep respect to |
| 축하합니다 (chukhahamnida) | Formal/polite default | Coworkers, acquaintances, official announcements, wedding speeches |
| 정말 축하해요 (jeongmal chukhahaeyo) | Polite, emphatic | "Really, congratulations" — warmer than the plain formal version, still respectful |
| 축하해요 (chukhahaeyo) | Polite-casual | Friendly coworkers or acquaintances — 해요체 register |
| 축하해 (chukhahae) | Casual (반말) | Close friends, siblings, people younger than you — the version you'll text most often |
| 축하축하! (chukha-chukha!) | Very casual, playful | Doubled for emphasis in texts/chat — like an enthusiastic "congrats congrats!!" |
See also: 해요체 Endings Guide
The One Rule That Matters Most
축하해(요) sounds much more natural with the occasion named first: 취업 축하해요 ("congrats on the new job"), 졸업 축하해 ("congrats on graduating"), 결혼 축하드립니다 ("congratulations on your wedding"). A bare 축하해 by itself is fine in a reply, but naming the occasion is what natives actually do when initiating the congratulations.
Before the result is in — the exam, the audition, the interview — Koreans cheer with 화이팅 instead, and save 축하 for afterward.
Quick Examples
합격 축하해!
hapgyeok chukhahae!
Congrats on passing!
합격 ("passing an exam/interview") + casual 축하해 — a very common message among friends.
결혼을 진심으로 축하드립니다.
gyeoruneul jinsimeuro chukhadeurimnida.
Sincere congratulations on your wedding.
진심으로 ("sincerely") + the humble-formal 축하드립니다 — typical wedding-speech register.
Common Mistakes
Mistake #1 — Using 축하해 in a formal card or speech
It's banmal — formal cards, speeches, and messages to seniors call for 축하합니다 or 축하드립니다 instead.
Mistake #2 — Dropping the occasion word entirely
결혼 축하해요 ("congrats on the wedding") reads far more natural than a bare 축하해요 with no context attached.
Mini Quiz
2 short questions — about 1 minute
2. Which is the safest, most formal way to congratulate a boss or elder?
3. What does naming the occasion (e.g. 합격, 결혼) before 축하해요 do?
Part of Korean Greetings & Everyday Politeness — The Survival Set
Related Knowledge
Learn Next
10 Ways to Say Thank You in Korean
Congratulating someone and thanking them share the same formal/casual split — the natural next phrase pair to learn.
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