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Condolence Ribbon Wording, Depending on Your Relationship
Condolence Ribbon Wording, Depending on Your Relationship
Condolence Ribbon Wording, Depending on Your Relationship
A condolence wreath has two ribbons hanging vertically down either side. As you face the wreath, the usual custom is to write the ceremonial phrase 謹弔 ("with deepest sympathy") on the right-hand ribbon and the sender's name on the left.
謹弔 means to offer one's condolences with respect, and nearly every wreath sent to a funeral hall carries it. Some people prefer a Korean phrase such as "With deepest sympathy, may the departed rest in peace", but a long message may not fit on the ribbon, so it is best to keep it short.
The sender's name on the left ribbon should let the recipient see at a glance who it is from. Whether you write your job title alongside your name, or only your organisation, depends on your relationship with the family.
If the Chinese characters of 謹弔 feel unfamiliar, you can simply ask for the Korean word for it to be written instead. A ribbon is a brief way of expressing your sympathy, so being accurate matters more than being wordy.
The ceremonial phrase changes with the occasion. For a funeral hall, use 謹弔; for a shop opening or a celebration, use something suited to the event, such as 祝 開業 ("congratulations on your opening"). A congratulatory phrase on a funeral ribbon would be a serious faux pas, so always check the purpose first.
The weight of the wording shifts a little depending on the relationship. The table below sets out examples for the left ribbon, using made-up names.
| Relationship | Left ribbon example | Notation tip |
|---|---|---|
| Friend or acquaintance | Friend Hong Gildong | Put the relationship before your name |
| Relative | Maternal Uncle Hong Gildong | Use the title as seen from the chief mourner's side |
| Work colleagues | Sales Team, All Members | Add "All Members" after the team name |
| Business contact | OO Co., Ltd., CEO Hong Gildong | Write the official company name and your title |
| Club or alumni group | OO Alumni Association, All Members | Write the group's name as it stands |
For close friends and relatives, putting the relationship before your name lets the bereaved family see straight away who sent the wreath. For wreaths from a workplace or a business contact, on the other hand, it helps to include both organisation and title, so that mourners and the family can keep track of them easily.
When several people are sending a wreath together, it is common to group them with "All Members" rather than list every name. With many names, the lettering becomes small and hard to read.
If you are writing to a senior colleague or a boss, the wording itself stays the same. Putting your organisation and title in front of your own name will simply look more courteous.
The relationship is usually written from the chief mourner's point of view, not the deceased's. If you are the chief mourner's friend, write "friend"; if you are their colleague, write your team. Even if you never knew the deceased personally, choosing the wording by your connection to the chief mourner will not feel awkward.
It is safest to write the company's full official name without shortening it. Whether "Co., Ltd." comes before or after the name simply follows the registered company name, and the CEO's or team's name and title come after that.
Write titles in the form the recipient would recognise. If a whole department is sending the wreath, add "All Members" after the team name; individual names can be left out.
Organisation, title and name together may not fit on a single line of the ribbon. If you note where the line should break when you order, it helps the lettering come out in the shape you intended.
If the executives and the staff of the same company send separate wreaths, make clear who each one is from. Wording such as "CEO Hong Gildong" and "All Executives and Staff" leaves no room for confusion about the sender.
Once you have settled on the wording, here is what is worth checking before you order.
If you have received a funeral notice, the most accurate approach is to copy the names and funeral hall details exactly onto your order form. Arrive in Bloom (이름꽃) also offers a free tool for making mobile funeral notices.
If you have received the news late and time before the visit is short, delivery time matters too. We quote about 3 hours for urgent delivery to a funeral hall.
We deliver nationwide, and a 3-tier condolence wreath is 59,000 won, delivery included. We write the ribbon wording by hand at no charge, and send you a photo of the actual wreath after delivery.
As you face the wreath, 謹弔 goes on the right ribbon and the sender's name on the left. The ribbons are the two strips hanging vertically down either side of the wreath.
It is common to add "All Members" after the team or group name rather than list everyone. With many names, the lettering becomes small and hard to read.
We write ribbon and card wording by hand at no charge. When you order, just let us know where you would like the line to break.
A 3-tier condolence wreath is 59,000 won, delivery included, and the ribbon wording is handwritten at no charge. We send you a photo of the actual wreath after delivery.
Published July 3, 2026 · Updated October 5, 2026 · by Arrive in Bloom · Flower Editor
