Korean Dictionary
How to say "Joyful" in Korean
“Joyful” in Korean is 기쁘다 (pronounced "Gippeuda").
기쁘다
Gippeuda
Usage & Context
One of the core positive emotions in Korean. Used freely in everyday speech, songs, and celebrations. 기쁜 소식 (joyful news) is a common phrase. 기쁘다 feels more heartfelt than the more casual 좋다 (good/like).
Example Sentence
오랜 친구를 다시 만나서 너무 기뻐요.
I'm so joyful to see my old friend again.
How to use 기쁘다 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Joyful” is 기쁘다, romanized as Gippeuda.
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 기쁘다.
Pronunciation Guide
기 (gi) sounds like 'gee' in 'geese'. 쁘 (ppeu) is a tense 'p' sound followed by a vowel like 'uh' in 'but', imagine saying 'ppuh'. 다 (da) is like 'da' in 'dad'. The 'ㅃ' sound is a tense consonant, requiring more tension in the mouth. The stress is on the first syllable.
Formal & Casual Forms
Formal (존댓말)
기뻐요
Gippeoyo
Common polite form used in everyday conversation.
Casual (반말)
기뻐
Gippeo
Casual form used with close friends or subordinates.
More Example Sentences
Expressing happiness for a friend's success.
네가 합격했다는 소식에 정말 기뻤어.
I was really joyful to hear the news that you passed.
Enjoying a reunion or quality time with family.
오랜만에 가족들과 함께 시간을 보내니 기쁘다.
It's joyful to spend time with family after a long time.
Finding happiness in simple, everyday moments.
그녀는 아이들의 웃음소리에 기쁨을 느꼈다.
She felt joy in the sound of her children's laughter.
Cultural Context
기쁘다 is a fundamental adjective for expressing joy or happiness, often implying a deeper, more heartfelt emotion than the general '좋다' (good/like). It's frequently used in personal expressions of happiness, congratulations, and in more formal contexts like speeches or news announcements ('기쁜 소식입니다'). In K-dramas, characters often use '기뻐요' to express genuine delight, especially when reunited with loved ones or achieving a long-sought goal. It conveys a sense of inner contentment and gladness.
Editorial note
We review entries like 기쁘다 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
기쁜 소식
Joyful news
마음이 기쁘다
To feel joyful in one's heart
기쁨을 나누다
To share joy
Related Expressions
즐겁다
Jeulgeopda
To be joyful, pleasant, fun (often for activities or experiences)
행복하다
Haengbokhada
To be happy (broader, more encompassing happiness)
슬프다
Seulpeuda
To be sad (antonym)
신나다
Sinnada
To be excited, thrilled (more energetic joy)
More Emotions Words
Related Articles
Master Korean with AI-Powered Learning
Practice Joyful and 10,000+ words with native pronunciation and AI conversation.
