기쁘다
"Happy / glad" — Korean's standard adjective for the feeling of joy, often paired with specific events.
- Meaning: "Happy / glad" — Korean's standard adjective for the feeling of joy, often paired with specific events.
- Pronunciation: /ki.p͈ɯ.da/ (gippeuda)
- Part of speech: adjective
- Formality: Neutral — works in most everyday settings.
- Literal: is happy / is glad
What does 기쁘다 mean?
기쁘다 (gippeuda) means "happy / glad / joyful" and emphasizes the feeling of joy at a specific event or moment. Casual 기뻐 (gippeo), polite 기뻐요 (gippeoyo), formal 기쁩니다 (gippeumnida). Korean differentiates kinds of happiness: 기쁘다 is celebratory joy ("I'm glad you came"); 행복하다 (haengbokhada) is the steadier, deeper "happy" of long-term wellbeing; 즐겁다 (jeulgeopda) is "fun / enjoyable" about an activity. K-drama and K-pop ballads use 기쁘다 in emotional reunion scenes — "너를 만나서 기뻐" ("I'm glad I met you"). Standard week-one Korean vocabulary.
Examples in context
When to use 기쁘다
- Reacting to good news, achievements, reunions
- Expressing genuine joy about a specific event
- Polite greetings ("glad to meet you")
- Describing emotional moments
When NOT to use 기쁘다
- Long-term general happiness — use 행복하다 (haengbokhada)
- Fun activities — use 재미있다 (jaemiitda) or 즐겁다 (jeulgeopda)
- Subtle good moods — sounds too strong
Related terms
More in Emotions & states
Foundational emotion adjectives — sad, happy, angry, scared, embarrassed.
"Sad" or "to be sad" — Korean's standard adjective for sadness, sorrow, or melancholy.
"To be angry / to get angry" — Korean's standard expression for anger.
"Scary" or "scared" — Korean's versatile adjective for fear, used both for things that frighten and people who are frightened.
"Embarrassed / shy / ashamed" — covers both bashful blushing and serious shame depending on context.
Frequently asked questions
How do you say "happy" in Korean?
기쁘다 (gippeuda) is the most common Korean word for "happy / glad." Casual 기뻐 (gippeo), polite 기뻐요 (gippeoyo), formal 기쁩니다 (gippeumnida). It emphasizes joy about a specific event. For long-term general happiness, Koreans say 행복하다 (haengbokhada).
What is the difference between 기쁘다 and 행복하다?
기쁘다 (gippeuda) is event-driven joy — happy ABOUT something specific (a reunion, a passing grade). 행복하다 (haengbokhada) is steady-state contentment — generally happy with life. "I'm happy you came" uses 기쁘다; "I'm happy with my life" uses 행복하다.
What does 만나서 기뻐요 mean?
만나서 기뻐요 (mannaseo gippeoyo) is the polite Korean phrase for "I'm glad to meet you." It is used at first meetings, often in formal/business introductions. The casual version is 만나서 기뻐 (mannaseo gippeo); the formal is 만나서 기쁩니다 (mannaseo gippeumnida).
How is 기쁘다 pronounced?
기쁘다 is pronounced [ki.p͈ɯ.da] — "gee-ppeu-da" with a tense doubled P in the middle (sharper and faster than English P). Three syllables, all light. The "eu" vowel is closer to a clipped "uh."
More Korean slang?
Browse the full Korean Slang Dictionary or read the deep-dive: Korean Slang Ultimate Guide.