As someone who spent two unforgettable years teaching English in Japan through the JET Programme, I've had the joy of celebrating countless birthdays with my Japanese friends and students. One of my fondest memories? Well, that would be the first time I attempted to wish my colleague Yuki a happy birthday in Japanese.
Let's just say my pronunciation was... interesting.
But you know what? The huge grin on her face made my awkward attempt totally worth it. That's when it hit me โ learning to say Happy Birthday in Japanese isn't just about nailing the words. It's actually about the heartfelt connection they create.
In this article, I'm going to spill the beans on over seven easy ways to say "Happy Birthday" in Japanese. Trust me, by the end of this, you'll be dropping birthday wishes like a local! Let's get started, shall we?
Sidenote: This post is the latest in our "Happy Birthday" series, where we explore the best ways to wish someone a wonderful birthday in different languages. You can read more posts here:
- Happy birthday in Punjabi
- Happy birthday in Arabic
- Happy birthday in Korean
How To Say Happy Birthday In Japanese
Ready to make someone's birthday extra special? Let's dive into these Japanese birthday greetings!
ใ่ช็ๆฅใใใงใจใใใใใพใ โ Otanjoubi omedetou gozaimasu
It's the most polite way to say "Happy Birthday," and it's your go-to when you want to show respect or when you're not super close with the birthday person.
Let's break it down:
- ใ่ช็ๆฅ (otanjoubi) means "birthday"
- ใใใงใจใ (omedetou) means "congratulations"
- ใใใใพใ (gozaimasu) is a polite suffix that elevates the whole expression
This phrase is a perfect example of keigo (ๆฌ่ช), the Japanese language's system of polite speech. If you've ever used ใใใใจใใใใใพใ (arigatou gozaimasu) to say "thank you very much," you're already familiar with how ใใใใพใ works to make things extra polite.
In my experience, this is best used when you want to err on the side of formality like during work interactions or when speaking with someone older or of higher authority.
ใ ่ช็ ๆฅ ใใใงใจใ โ Otanjoubi omedetou
ใ ่ช็ ๆฅ ใใใงใจใ (Otanjoubi omedetou) is the standard, casual way to say "Happy Birthday" in Japanese. It's perfect for friends and family. Think of it as the equivalent of a warm, friendly "Happy Birthday!" in English.
When to use it:
- With your buddies
- Talking to classmates or coworkers you're close with
- Family gatherings
- Any situation where you don't need to be overly formal
Pro tip: Using this version with people who you want to be really close with can also show that you're comfortable with them and understand the nuances of Japanese social dynamics.
ใใใใผใใผในใใผ โ Happii baasudee
This phrase is super popular, especially with the younger crowd. When I was teaching in Japan, I heard my students use it all the time. It's written in katakana alphabet script (those blocky characters for foreign words), but get this - on social media, kids often just type "Happy Birthday" in the regular Roman Alphabet.
[ๆฐๅญ]-ๆญณใฎใ่ช็ๆฅใใใงใจใ - [Number]-sai no otanjoubi omedetou
This phrase is your go-to when you want to give a shout-out to someone's specific age. It's like saying "Happy 30th birthday!" instead of just "Happy birthday!" in English. Here's how it works:
- Replace [ๆฐๅญ] with the person's age in Japanese.
- Add ๆญณ (sai) after the number.
- Finish with ใฎใ่ช็ๆฅใใใงใจใ (no otanjoubi omedetou).
For example:
- 20ๆญณใฎใ่ช็ๆฅใใใงใจใ (Hatachi no otanjoubi omedetou) - Happy 20th birthday!
- 30ๆญณใฎใ่ช็ๆฅใใใงใจใ (Sanjussai no otanjoubi omedetou) - Happy 30th birthday!
Quick tip: Even though we're talking about ordinal birthdays (1st, 2nd, 3rd), we use cardinal numbers here. So it's ใใฃใใ (issai) for 1, ใซใใ (nisai) for 2, ใใใใ (sansai) for 3, and so on.
่ช็ๆฅใใใงใจใ - Tanjoubi omedetou
In this phrase, we've dropped the polite ใ (o) from the beginning of ่ช็ๆฅ (tanjoubi). According to my Japanese friends and co-teachers, this basic birthday greeting is a great way to show you're like best friends with the celebrant. Just make sure you're actually close enough to the person before dropping the formalities!
ใใใใ (Ota ome)
This super-short phrase is a condensed version of ใใใใใใใณใใใงใจใ (otanjoubi omedetou). It takes the ใใ (ota) from ใใใใใใใณ (otanjoubi) and the ใใ (ome) from ใใใงใจใ (omedetou), smooshing them together to create this snappy Japanese birthday party greeting!
When to use it:
- Online, especially in texts or social media
- With young, close friends
- When you want to sound extra casual and cool
Remember, this is seriously informal. Don't use it with anyone older or in any remotely formal situation. It's perfect for a quick birthday text to your bestie, but probably not for your Japanese teacher!
ใใใงใจใ- Omedetou
Need something really simple? This versatile greeting is actually not just for birthdays - use it for any congratulatory moment since its direct translation is "congrats" in the Japanese language.
้ทๅฏฟใ็ฅใใพใ โ Chouju o inorimasu
This elegant phrase literally means "I pray for your long life." It's a beautiful way to extend birthday wishes to older adults in Japanese culture. What I perosnally noticed is that this is best used when celebrating a milestone birthday for older adults.
้ ใใชใฃใใใฉใใ่ช็ๆฅใใใงใจใ - Osoku nattakedo, otanjoubi omedetou
This phrase is your go-to for belated birthday wishes in Japanese. It literally translates to "Happy belated birthday" The first part, "Osoku nattakedo," means "Although it's become late," and it's the key to turning any birthday wish into a belated one.
Japanese Birthday Vocabulary
Now that you've got those cool Japanese birthday greetings down, why stop there? To really dive into the world of Japanese birthday celebrations, let's beef up your vocab.
English | Japanese Script | Japanese Romanization | Pronunciation Guide | Usage Example |
---|---|---|---|---|
Birthday | ่ช็ๆฅ | Tanjoubi | tan-joh-bee | ไปๆฅใฏ็งใฎ่ช็ๆฅใงใใ(Kyou wa watashi no tanjoubi desu.) - Today is my birthday. |
Birthday party | ่ช็ๆฅใใผใใฃใผ | Tanjoubi paatii | tan-joh-bee pah-tee | ่ช็ๆฅใใผใใฃใผใ่จ็ปใใฆใใพใใ(Tanjoubi paatii wo keikaku shiteimasu.) - I'm planning a birthday party. |
Birthday cake | ใใผในใใผใฑใผใญ | Baasudee keeki | bah-su-dee keh-ki | ใใผในใใผใฑใผใญใ่ฒทใใพใใใ(Baasudee keeki wo kaimashita.) - I bought a birthday cake. |
Candle | ใใใใ | Rousoku | roh-so-ku | ใใใใใๅนใๆถใใฆใใ ใใใ(Rousoku wo fukikeshite kudasai.) - Please blow out the candles. |
Present/Gift | ใใฌใผใณใ | Purezento | pu-re-zen-to | ใใฌใผใณใใ้ใใฆใใใใงใใ๏ผ(Purezento wo akete mo ii desu ka?) - Can I open the present? |
Birthday song | ่ช็ๆฅใฎๆญ | Tanjoubi no uta | tan-joh-bee no oo-ta | ่ช็ๆฅใฎๆญใๆญใใพใใใใ(Tanjoubi no uta wo utaimashou.) - Let's sing the birthday song. |
To blow out (candles) | ๅนใๆถใ | Fukikesu | foo-ki-ke-su | ใใใใใๅนใๆถใๆใซ้กใไบใใใฆใใ ใใใ(Rousoku wo fukikesu toki ni negaigoto wo shite kudasai.) - Make a wish when you blow out the candles. |
To make a wish | ้กใไบใใใ | Negaigoto wo suru | ne-gai-go-to wo su-ru | ่ช็ๆฅใซไฝใ้กใไบใใใพใใใ๏ผ(Tanjoubi ni nani wo negaigoto wo shimashita ka?) - What did you wish for on your birthday? |
Surprise party | ใตใใฉใคใบใใผใใฃใผ | Sapuraizu paatii | sa-pu-rai-zu pah-tee | ๅ้ใฎใใใซใตใใฉใคใบใใผใใฃใผใๆบๅใใฆใใพใใ(Tomodachi no tame ni sapuraizu paatii wo junbi shiteimasu.) - I'm preparing a surprise party for my friend. |
Age | ๅนด้ฝข | Nenrei | nen-rei | ๅนด้ฝขใ่ใใฎใฏๅคฑ็คผใใใใใพใใใ(Nenrei wo kiku no wa shitsurei kamo shiremasen.) - It might be rude to ask about age. |
Special Japanese Birthday Celebrations
Japan places great importance on numbers and birthdays. Certain ages are considered especially significant, reflecting cultural values, traditions, and numerical symbolism. These special birthdays, known as "Toshi Iwai" (ๅนด็ฅใ), mark important milestones throughout life.
Age | Japanese Name | Significance |
---|---|---|
1 | Isshou Mochi | First birthday ritual with rice cakes |
3 | Shichi-Go-San | Shrine visit for girls and boys |
5 | Shichi-Go-San | Shrine visit for boys |
7 | Shichi-Go-San | Shrine visit for girls |
20 | Hatachi | Coming of age, official adulthood |
60 | Kanreki | Completion of zodiac cycle, symbolic rebirth |
77 | Kiju | "Joy" birthday |
88 | Beiju | "Rice" birthday |
99 | Hakuju | "White" birthday |
100 | Hyakuju | Centennial celebration |
Each of these birthdays involves unique customs and celebrations, highlighting their importance in Japanese culture.
Happy Birthday Song In Japanese
Surprising a Japanese friend with the Happy Birthday song in their native language is a delightful way to celebrate their special day. While Japan has embraced the familiar Western melody, they've cleverly adapted the lyrics to suit their language.
Let's break down the lyrics and their pronunciation to help you sing along!
English | Japanese (Romaji) | Japanese (Hiragana) |
---|---|---|
Happy Birthday to you | Happi Baasudee tu yuu | ใฏใฃใดใผใฐใผใใงใผใจใ ใผใใผ |
Happy Birthday to you | Happi Baasudee tu yuu | ใฏใฃใดใผใฐใผใใงใผใจใ ใผใใผ |
Happy Birthday, dear [name] | Happi Baasudee, [name] | ใฏใฃใดใผใฐใผใใงใผใ[ใชใพใ] |
Happy Birthday to you | Happi Baasudee tu yuu | ใฏใฃใดใผใฐใผใใงใผใจใ ใผใใผ |
Usage Tips:
- Replace [name] with the birthday person's name.
- Pronounce each syllable clearly, especially the elongated sounds like "baasu" and "yuu".
- Practice a few times before the big moment to ensure smooth delivery.
- Remember, it's the thought that counts โ your Japanese friends will appreciate the effort even if the pronunciation isn't perfect!
Learn Japanese With Lingopie
Learning to say "Happy Birthday" in Japanese is just the beginning of understanding the rich birthday traditions in Japanese culture. To deepen your knowledge and appreciation, consider exploring Japanese TV shows and movies that often feature birthday celebrations.
By watching these shows, you'll not only improve your language skills but also gain a more nuanced understanding of Japanese social norms and values surrounding birthdays.
For those eager to dive deeper into Japanese language and culture, Lingopie offers a vast library of authentic Japanese content. And by content, we literally mean the best movies and TV shows straight from Japan!
With hundreds of clips featuring real-life scenarios, including birthday celebrations, Lingopie provides an immersive way to learn Japanese in context. Tuning into these Japanese movies and shows will allow you to experience the language as it's naturally spoken, helping you grasp nuances that textbooks alone can't convey.
So what are you waiting for? Try Lingopie's epic features today!