Forgetting someone’s birthday can sometimes happen, but it’s always better late than never to wish them well. If you need to express belated birthday wishes in Japanese, this guide will provide you with both formal and informal ways to do so. When it comes to saying “Happy Belated Birthday” in Japanese, it’s important to consider the appropriate level of formality and regional variations. However, variations in the Japanese language are not as prevalent in this particular expression. Nonetheless, let’s explore the different ways to wish someone a belated happy birthday in Japanese.
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Formal Ways to Say Happy Belated Birthday
In formal situations, such as addressing your supervisor, clients, or elderly people with respect, it’s important to use polite language. Here are a few examples:
- Setsubunō no kinjitsu ni okurete shingorei mōshiagemasu.
せつぶんの金日（きんじつ）に遅（おく）れて新（しん）御礼（ごれい）申（もう）し上（あ）げます。 - Gomenkudasai ga, otanjōbi o iwatasōgōzaimasen deshita.
ごめんくださいが、お誕生日（たんじょうび）を祝（いわ）申（た）そう御座（ござ）いませんでした。 - Okininattara, otanjōbi no oshirase o itashimasu.
遅（おく）くなりましたら、お誕生日（たんじょうび）のお知（し）らせ申（もう）し上（あ）げます。
These phrases are suitable for sincere apologies and showing respectful regrets for missing the person’s birthday. Remember to always use polite language (keigo) when speaking formally to show proper respect in Japanese culture.
Informal Ways to Say Happy Belated Birthday
In less formal situations, such as with friends, classmates, or younger people, you can use more casual language. Here are some examples of informal expressions to convey belated birthday wishes:
- Oshimai desu ga, tanjōbi no omichi omedetō gozaimashita!
おしまいですが、誕生日（たんじょうび）のお道（みち）おめでとうございます！ - Tanjōbi ga chotto okurete shimaimashita, zannen.
誕生日（たんじょうび）がちょっと遅（おく）れてしまいました、残念（ざんねん）。 - Tanjōbi o onaji omoide de matte okure, yorokobi ni omomuki o tsutaete okure.
誕生日（たんじょうび）を同（おな）じ思（おも）い出（で）で待（ま）って遅（おく）れ、喜（よろこ）びに思（おも）い喜（き）ばせておくれ。
These expressions are more suitable for informal settings where you can be more relaxed and friendly with the person you are speaking to. It’s important to adapt your language to the appropriate level of formality based on your relationship with the individual.
Regional Variations
Unlike some phrases in Japanese where regional variations exist, saying “Happy Belated Birthday” does not often differ significantly across regions. However, there may be dialectal variations in various regions of Japan. It’s essential to familiarize yourself with the local dialect if you are in an area with distinct linguistic characteristics. One notable example is the Kansai dialect, spoken in the Osaka and Kyoto region. In Kansai dialect, the phrase “Happy Belated Birthday” can be expressed as follows:
Setsubunō no kinjitsu ni okurete, omedetō gozaimaaachan!
せつぶんの金日（きんじつ）に遅（おく）れて、おめでとうございま〜っちゃん！
This variation in Kansai dialect adds a friendly and playful tone to the phrase. However, it’s important to understand when it’s suitable to use local dialects, as they may be perceived as too casual or informal in certain situations or with people you are not familiar with.
Final Thoughts
Remember to adapt your language and level of formality based on the person you are speaking to and the situation you are in. Using the appropriate honorifics and polite language is crucial in Japanese culture, especially in formal settings. Whether you are apologizing for forgetting someone’s birthday or conveying your belated well wishes, expressing yourself in Japanese will surely be appreciated by the recipient. Use the phrases provided in this guide as a starting point and feel free to personalize them to create a more heartfelt message. We hope this guide helps you effectively say “Happy Belated Birthday” in Japanese! Happy learning and best of luck with your language endeavors!
