Korean Dictionary
How to say "Congratulations" in Korean
“Congratulations” in Korean is 축하합니다 (pronounced "chukha hamnida").
축하합니다
chukha hamnida
Usage & Context
축하합니다 is the formal Korean expression of congratulations used at weddings, birthdays, graduations, and holiday celebrations. It is typically accompanied by a deep bow or a warm handshake in Korean social settings. Sending 축하 messages via KakaoTalk is a ubiquitous part of Korean holiday and event culture.
Example Sentence
졸업을 진심으로 축하합니다!
Heartfelt congratulations on your graduation!
How to use 축하합니다 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Congratulations” is 축하합니다, romanized as chukha hamnida.
Usage tip
Learn this word together with a complete Korean sentence. Meaning often depends on particles, politeness level, and word order.
Common mistake
Do not rely only on the English meaning. Read the Korean example sentence and notice the particles, word order, and politeness level around 축하합니다.
Pronunciation Guide
The 'chuk' sounds like 'chook' in 'book'. 'Ha' is like 'hah' in 'haha'. 'Ham' is like 'hahm' in 'ham'. 'Ni' is like 'nee' in 'knee', and 'da' is like 'dah' in 'dad'. Say it as 'chook-hah hahm-nee-dah', with a slight emphasis on 'chuk-ha'.
Formal & Casual Forms
Casual (반말)
축하해
chukhae
Used among close friends, family, or to people younger than you.
More Example Sentences
Congratulating newlyweds at a wedding.
결혼 진심으로 축하합니다! 행복하세요.
Heartfelt congratulations on your marriage! Be happy.
Congratulating a colleague on a career advancement.
승진 축하드립니다! 앞으로도 좋은 일만 가득하시길 바랍니다.
Congratulations on your promotion! I hope only good things happen to you in the future.
Congratulating parents on their baby's 100-day milestone.
아기 백일 축하합니다! 건강하게 잘 자라렴.
Congratulations on your baby's 100th day! Grow up healthy.
Cultural Context
"축하합니다" is the standard polite way to congratulate someone in Korea. While "축하해요" is also polite, "축하합니다" carries a slightly more formal and respectful tone, often used in public speeches, formal events, or when addressing elders or superiors. In modern Korean culture, sending congratulatory messages via KakaoTalk, often accompanied by gifticons (digital gift certificates), is extremely common for birthdays, graduations, and other milestones. It's a quick and convenient way to show you care.
Editorial note
We review entries like 축하합니다 for pronunciation, example sentence fit, and learner mistakes so the page answers more than a direct dictionary lookup.
Reviewed by Min-jung Park, Korean Language Teacher. Updated May 31, 2026. See our editorial standards.
Common Phrases
생일 축하합니다!
Happy Birthday!
졸업 축하합니다!
Congratulations on your graduation!
새해 복 많이 받으세요!
Happy New Year! (literally "Receive many blessings in the new year!")
Related Expressions
축하해요
chukha haeyo
Congratulations (polite, slightly less formal than -합니다)
축하드립니다
chukha deurimnida
Congratulations (most formal, literally "I offer congratulations")
축하 선물
chukha seonmul
congratulatory gift
축하 파티
chukha pati
congratulatory party
More Holidays & Festivals Words
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