축하해요!

When to use

Use this phrase to congratulate someone on a happy occasion, such as a birthday, graduation, promotion, or wedding. It is a warm and positive expression.

Speech Level

The '-아요/-어요' ending makes this phrase polite and friendly, suitable for most social interactions, especially with peers or those younger than you.

How it works

This phrase is derived from a noun and a verb, followed by a polite ending. The subject (I) and object (you) are omitted.

• 축하하다: Verb meaning 'to congratulate'.
• -해요: Polite, informal declarative sentence ending.

Pronunciation

When the 'ㄱ' batchim in '축' meets the following 'ㅎ' in '하', they combine into an aspirated 'ㅋ' sound, making the pronunciation [추카해요].

Notes

A common, friendly way to say 'Congratulations!