The correct way to say "happy birthday" in Japanese is "tanjoubi omedetou" or "tanjoubi omedeteou gozaimasu," but which expression you should use between the two largely depends on who you are speaking to. There are also other birthday-related vocabulary that can be useful to learn. The following are some of the most important pieces of information regarding happy birthdays in Japan.
Step
Method 1 of 2: Wishing you a Happy Birthday
Step 1. Say "tanjoubi omedetou" to your friend
This is a casual and informal way to wish someone a happy birthday.
- Only use this expression for people you know and people you can talk to informally. In general, this group includes friends, most classmates, most children, and most younger siblings or cousins.
- Avoid using this expression with people who have a higher status than you, such as teachers, bosses, foreigners, or older people. Courtesy is very important in Japanese culture, and using an informal sentence like this can be considered rude if you say it to someone who is of a higher status than you.
- Tanjoubi means birthday.
- Omedetou means "Congratulations"
- The kanji for tanjoubi omedetou is.
- You have to pronounce it as tan-joh-bee oh-meh-de-toh.
Step 2. To be more formal say "tanjoubi omedetou gozaimasu
This sentence is more formal and can be used as a polite or sincere way to wish a happy birthday.
- This is a phrase you should use with anyone with a higher social status than you, including parents, teachers, employers, and strangers.
- You can also use it with friends and people you know to emphasize a greater sense of sincerity.
- Gozaimasu more or less means "very much" making this sentence similar to wishing someone a "very happy birthday"
- The complete kanji for this expression is.
- Pronounce this expression as tan-joh-bee oh-meh-de-toh goh-za-i-mahs.
Method 2 of 2: Related Terms
Step 1. Just say "omedetou" or "omedetou gozaimasu
Although these words are not a special expression for a birthday, they are congratulatory and can be used to express good wishes on someone's birthday.
- Omedetou means "congratulations." Use this simplified expression with people you know closely or with people who have the same or lower social status than you. This includes friends, classmates, and children.
- The hiragana for omedetou is. Pronounce this word as oh-meh-de-toh.
- Gozaimasu is a way of emphasizing your formality and sincerity, making omedetou gozaimasu appropriate to say to your elders, teachers, employers and anyone with a higher social status than you.
- Omedetou gozaimasu's hiragana writing is. Pronounce this expression as oh-meh-de-toh goh-za-i-mahs.
Step 2. Say "yatta
"This word is used to express feelings of joy, similar to the words "yay!" in English or "hurray!" in Indonesian.
- The katakana writing for yatta is.
- Pronounce yatta as yah-tah.
Step 3. Use "okurebase" when your greeting is late
This word can be translated as "too late".
- When giving a belated birthday wish, say "okurebase tanjoubi omedetou."
- The kanji for okurebase is.
- Pronounce okurebase as oh-koo-reh-bah-seh.
Step 4. Ask someone's age by saying "Toshi waikutsu desu ka?
"This sentence means more or less "How old are you?"
- Toshi (年) can mean "year" or "age."
- Wa (は) means "that"
- Ikutsu (いくつ) means "a number."
- Desu ka (ですか) means "is."
- Pronounce this whole question as toh-shee wah ee-koot-soo deh-soo kah.
Step 5. Find out when someone's birthday is by saying "Tanjoubi wa itsu desu ka?
This question roughly means, "When is your birthday?"
- Tanjoubi (誕生日) means “birthday,” wa (は) means “which,” and desu ka (ですか) means “is.”
- Itsu (何時) means “when.”
- Pronounce this whole question as tan-joh-bee wah eet-soo deh-soo kah.
