グリーティングカード
gurītingukādo
The English phrase "greeting card" can be translated into Japanese as グリーティングカード (gurītingukādo) or 挨拶状.
Meaning: card sent as a greeting (noun)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| グリーティングカード | gurītingukādo |
| 挨拶状 | aisatsu-jō |
グリーティングカード is a loanword used to describe cards sent as a greeting. 挨拶状 is used for more formal, traditional or business-related written greetings, such as seasonal announcements or formal correspondence.
What does it mean word for word?
The term 挨拶状 is composed of 挨拶 (aisatsu), meaning greeting and 状 (jō), meaning a document or letter.
Which one should you use?
挨拶状 refers to more formal, traditional or business-related written greetings, often used for seasonal announcements or formal correspondence.
How do you pronounce it?
gurītingukādo
Did you know?
- A specific type of 挨拶状 called 年賀状 (nengajō) is so central to Japanese culture that the postal service often creates special schedules and priority lanes just to handle the massive surge of these New Year's cards.
- The word 挨拶 (aisatsu) inside 挨拶状 does not just mean 'hello', but can also refer to a formal apology or a speech given at the end of an event to signal its conclusion.
- In Japan, it is common to send a 挨拶状 to announce a change of address or a job title change, a practice that is far more standardized and expected in Japanese business culture than in English-speaking countries.
Examples in context
- 誕生日のお祝いのカードを送りたいんですが、どこで手に入りますか？I would like to send a birthday greeting card, where can I get one?
- 可愛いグリーティングカードを見つけました。Kawaii gurītingu kādo o mitsukemashita.I found a cute greeting card.
- 誕生日にグリーティングカードを贈ります。Tanjōbi ni gurītingu kādo o okurimasu.I will send a greeting card for the birthday.
- このグリーティングカードはとても素敵ですね。Kono gurītingu kādo wa totemo suteki desu ne.This greeting card is very lovely, isn't it?
Example conversation
Two friends are looking at stationery in a shop.
- 蓮 Renこのグリーティングカード、デザインが綺麗だね。Kono gurītingu kādo, dezain ga kirei da ne.This greeting card has a beautiful design, doesn't it?
- 陽葵 Himari本当！蓮君、どれがいいと思う？Hontō! Ren-kun, dore ga ii to omou?True! Ren, which one do you think is good?
- 蓮 Ren陽葵さんは、この花柄が似合うと思うよ。Himari-san wa, kono hanagara ga niau to omou yo.I think this floral pattern would suit you, Himari.
- 陽葵 Himariありがとう、これにするね。Arigatō, kore ni suru ne.Thank you, I'll go with this one.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “greeting card” translations and entries グリーティングカード, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
