What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of go (an honorific prefix), sotsugyou (graduation), omedetou (congratulations) and gozaimasu (a polite verb).
Which one should you use?
The honorific prefix go used before sotsugyou shows respect to the person who is graduating. While ご卒業おめでとうございます is the standard polite way to address a student, teacher or acquaintance, other variations exist depending on the level of closeness.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The full form ご卒業おめでとうございます is a formal and polite way to express congratulations. For a slightly less formal but still polite approach, you can use ご卒業おめでとう. The expression おめでとう is informal, and 卒業おめでとう is a simple, casual way to say "Congratulations on your graduation". For very formal or respectful situations, you might use 心からお祝い申し上げます, which means "I offer my heartfelt congratulations" or 新たな門出に、心からお祝い申し上げます, which means "Congratulations on this new beginning in your life."
How does it change in a sentence?
Dropping the gozaimasu at the end of the phrase to say ご卒業おめでとう makes the expression informal and suitable for friends or younger people.
How do you pronounce it?
gosotsugyou omedetou gozaimasu
Did you know?
- The concept of a 'new beginning' mentioned in formal congratulations refers to the fact that the Japanese business and school years start in April, not September.
- In Japan, graduation is often associated with the flower sakura, as most schools end their academic year in March just as the cherry blossoms bloom.
- Graduates often receive money as a gift in specially decorated envelopes called shugibukuro, which are chosen based on the formality of the relationship.
Examples in context
- ご卒業おめでとうございます。Go-sotsugyou omedetou gozaimasu.Congratulations on your graduation.
- 大学のご卒業おめでとうございます。Daigaku no go-sotsugyou omedetou gozaimasu.Congratulations on your university graduation.
- 本当にご卒業おめでとうございます！Hontou ni go-sotsugyou omedetou gozaimasu!Truly, congratulations on your graduation!
Example conversation
Ren is congratulating Yui on her graduation ceremony day.
- 蓮 Ren結衣さん、ご卒業おめでとうございます。Yui-san, go-sotsugyou omedetou gozaimasu.Yui, congratulations on your graduation.
- 結衣 Yuiありがとうございます、蓮さん。Arigatou gozaimasu, Ren-san.Thank you, Ren.
- 蓮 Renこれからの生活も応援しています。Kore kara no seikatsu mo ouen shite imasu.I am rooting for your future life too.
- 結衣 Yuiとても嬉しいです。Totemo ureshii desu.I am very happy.
