生年月日
seinengappi
The English phrase birthdate is 生年月日 (seinengappi) in Japanese.
生年月日 is used to refer to a person's specific birth date, typically for the purpose of documentation. It is primarily used when filling out official forms, applications or medical documents.
What does it mean word for word?
The word is a compound made of four parts: 生 (birth), 年 (year), 月 (month) and 日 (day), literally translating to 'birth year month day'.
Which one should you use?
生年月日 refers to the specific calendar date of birth required for documentation, whereas 誕生日 is the common word used for celebrating one's birthday.
How do you pronounce it?
seinengappi
Did you know?
- In Japan, you will often see the placeholder 生年月日 on forms followed by a blank space for the 'Imperial era' year rather than the 'Common era' year.
- While 誕生日 is used for parties, using 生年月日 in a social setting can sound unnervingly like a police interrogation or a hospital intake.
- The component 月 means 'moon' as well as 'month', meaning the word 'birthdate' is etymologically linked to the lunar cycle.
Examples in context
- わたしの誕生日は６月８日です。My birthdate is June 8th.
- 私の西暦の誕生日は１９８８年１月１２日です。My birthdate in the Christian era is January 12th, 1988.
- 生年月日は１９９５年３月２５日です。My birthdate is March 25th, 1995.
- オレの誕生日は１１月２日だよ。My birthdate is November 2nd.
- わたしってば馬の年の２月１５日生まれなの。I was born on February 15th, the year of the horse.
- 生年月日を教えてください。seinen gappi o oshiete kudasai.Please tell me your birthdate.
- 書類に生年月日を記入しました。shorui ni seinen gappi o kinyu shimashita.I filled in my birthdate on the document.
- 生年月日の入力に間違いがあります。seinen gappi no nyuryoku ni machigai ga arimasu.There is a mistake in the birthdate entry.
Example conversation
At a doctor's clinic, a receptionist is checking a patient's information.
- 美咲 Misaki健太さん、生年月日はいつですか？Kenta-san, seinen gappi wa itsu desu ka?Kenta, what is your birthdate?
- 健太 Kenta1995年5月10日です。Sen kyuuhyaku kyuujuugo nen go gatsu tooka desu.It is May 10th, 1995.
- 美咲 Misakiはい、確認できました。Hai, kakunin dekimashita.Yes, I have confirmed it.
- 健太 Kentaよろしくお願いします。Yoroshiku onegaishimasu.Thank you.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 生年月日, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
