誕生日おめでとう、お兄ちゃん
tanjoubi omedetou, oniichan
誕生日おめでとう、お兄ちゃん (tanjoubi omedetou, oniichan) is the Japanese phrase for "happy birthday brother".
This phrase is used to wish an older brother a happy birthday. The component お誕生日おめでとう means "happy birthday".
What does it mean word for word?
The word for birthday, 誕生日, is composed of the characters for "birth" and "day".
How do you pronounce it?
tanjoubi omedetou, oniichan
Did you know?
- In Japan, it is common to use the term お兄さん to refer to any young man of a similar age, even if he is a complete stranger.
- Depending on the family dynamic, an older brother might be called 兄貴 by a younger sibling. This version carries a tougher, more masculine tone and is often associated with 'big brother' figures in gangs or street culture.
- The prefix お in お兄ちゃん is an honorific. Using it for your own brother when talking to a stranger is often avoided to show humility, while using it when speaking directly to him shows respect.
Examples in context
- 兄ちゃん、誕生日おめでとう！新しい一年が幸せで満たされますように。Happy birthday brother! May the new year be filled with happiness.
- 兄さん、お誕生日おめでとうございます！いつも笑顔で過ごせますように。Happy Birthday, big brother! May every day be filled with joy.
- 誕生日おめでとう、お兄ちゃん。プレゼントだよ。tanjoubi omedetou, oniichan. purezento dayo.Happy birthday, brother. Here is your present.
Example conversation
Yui gives a birthday card to her older brother Kenta at home.
- 結衣 Yui誕生日おめでとう、お兄ちゃん。tanjoubi omedetou, oniichan.Happy birthday, brother.
- 健太 Kenta結衣、ありがとう！Yui, arigatou!Thanks, Yui!
- 結衣 Yuiこれ、プレゼントだよ。kore, purezento dayo.This is your present.
- 健太 Kentaわあ、大切にするよ。waa, taisetsu ni suru yo.Wow, I will cherish it.
