How to say "Congratulations" in Korean

"축하합니다" (Chukahamnida) directly translates to "Congratulations" in English. The pronunciation is 'choo-kah-hahm-nee-dah'. The '축' (chuk) sounds like 'chook' as in 'book', '하' (ha) is like 'ha' in 'hat', and '합니다' (hamnida) is pronounced 'hahm-nee-dah'. The 'ㅂ' in '합니다' becomes 'ㅁ' when followed by '니', a common Korean sound change.

"축하합니다" is a versatile expression used to congratulate someone on various happy occasions. Common contexts include birthdays (생일 축하합니다), weddings (결혼 축하합니다), graduations, promotions, or any significant achievement like winning an award. It conveys genuine good wishes and is suitable for both formal and semi-formal settings.

Yes, "축하합니다" (Chukahamnida) is a formal and polite expression. For closer friends or family, you can use less formal alternatives. "축하해요" (Chukahaeyo) is a slightly less formal but still polite option. For very close friends, simply "축하해" (Chukahae) is common, dropping the politeness suffix. The choice depends on your relationship with the person you are congratulating.

Absolutely. "축하합니다" is often combined with the occasion. For example, "생일 축하합니다" (Saengil Chukahamnida) means "Happy Birthday." "결혼 축하합니다" (Gyeolhon Chukahamnida) means "Congratulations on your marriage." "졸업 축하합니다" (Joreop Chukahamnida) is "Congratulations on your graduation." These are standard ways to offer congratulations for specific life events.

A common mistake is using "축하해" (Chukahae) with someone older or in a formal setting, as it's highly informal. Also, ensure you're congratulating for a positive event; using it sarcastically might be misunderstood. While "축하합니다" is generally safe, adding the specific occasion, like "승진 축하합니다" (Seungjin Chukahamnida) for a promotion, makes your well-wishes more precise and heartfelt.