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.
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. 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?
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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