How to say happy birthday in Japanese: お誕生日おめでとう
“Happy birthday” in Japanese is お誕生日おめでとう (o-tanjōbi omedetō), politely with ございます added. Short between friends: 誕生日おめでとう or just おめでとう (omedetō) — “congratulations”. The word “birthday” itself is 誕生日 (tanjōbi), where 誕生 means “birth” and 日 means “day”.
おめでとう works for any congratulation: birth, wedding, admission, win. So “happy birthday” is built simply — take the occasion and add the universal “congratulations”.
How to say happy birthday
| Japanese | Reading | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| お誕生日おめでとうおたんじょうびおめでとう | o-tanjōbi omedetō | Happy birthday! |
| お誕生日おめでとうございますおたんじょうびおめでとうございます | o-tanjōbi omedetō gozaimasu | Happy birthday (polite) |
| おめでとう | omedetō | Congratulations! |
| 誕生日たんじょうび | tanjōbi | Birthday |
| 何歳ですかなんさいですか | nansai desu ka | How old are you? |
| 素敵な一年をすてきないちねんを | suteki na ichinen o | May your year be wonderful |
| プレゼント | purezento | Gift |
When the full form with ございます is needed
To a colleague, boss, teacher — お誕生日おめでとうございます. For friends and family, おめでとう is enough. Note the prefix お before 誕生日: with it the phrase sounds more polite, without it — friendly.
How birthdays are celebrated in Japan
- Cake with candles and “Happy Birthday” in English — a completely common sight: the Western tradition has fully taken root.
- Gifts are given with both hands and a slight bow; unwrapping in front of the giver is not necessary.
- Age is asked more casually than in Europe, but still carefully with women over twenty.
- Special dates: 20 years — 成人式 (seijinshiki), though since 2022 adulthood begins at 18, and 60 years — 還暦 (kanreki), when the birth year returns in the cycle.
- At work, congratulations are modest: a card from the department, no office party.
Say the congratulation out loud
FAQ
How do you say “happy birthday” in Japanese?
お誕生日おめでとう (o-tanjōbi omedetō). Politely — with ございます added, short between friends — just おめでとう.
What does “omedetō” mean?
“Congratulations” — a universal formula for any occasion: birthday, wedding, admission, victory. The occasion is added in front.
When to add “gozaimasu”?
With elders, colleagues, teachers, clients. For friends and family, おめでとう without the polite ending is enough.
How to write a congratulation in a message?
誕生日おめでとう🎂 — that's enough. You can add 素敵な一年を (suteki na ichinen o) — “may your year be wonderful”.
Updated: