Situation
A friend tells you about something they are proud of.
Celebrate them in a way that feels present and genuine.
Natural American English
“That’s amazing—I’m so happy for you. You worked really hard for this.”
自然中文 · Natural Mandarin
“太棒了，我真替你开心。你为这个付出了很多。”
Tài bàng le, wǒ zhēn tì nǐ kāixīn. Nǐ wèi zhège fùchū le hěn duō.
Literal translation
That is great; I am truly happy on your behalf. You gave a lot for this.
Tone
Joyful, generous, and supportive.
Culture
Celebrating someone’s effort avoids making their good news feel like a competition or a quick social reaction.
What lands
Link the celebration to their effort. It shows you see both the win and the work behind it.
Try it
Your friend tells you they got accepted into a program they wanted. What could you say?
Reveal a natural response
“That’s amazing—I’m so happy for you. You worked really hard for this.”
Common mistake: Immediately comparing their news to your own can accidentally pull attention away from their moment.