お父さん、誕生日おめでとう
otousan, tanjoubi omedetou
The English phrase "happy birthday father" is translated into Japanese as お父さん、誕生日おめでとう (otousan, tanjoubi omedetou).
This phrase is used to wish one's father a happy birthday. In Japanese, it is common to address one's father directly by his title お父さん rather than using a name or a pronoun like "you".
What does it mean word for word?
The word 誕生日 (tanjoubi) literally means "day of birth".
Which one should you use?
The default form お父さん、誕生日おめでとう is casual and suitable for a close relationship.
How do you pronounce it?
otousan, tanjoubi omedetou
Did you know?
- In traditional Japanese culture, birthdays for fathers and other adults were historically not celebrated individually, as people traditionally aged on New Year's Day.
- While お父さん is used to address one's own father, a person might use 父 (chichi) when talking about their father to someone outside the family.
- The word おめでとう is derived from a verb meaning 'to be auspicious' or 'to be lucky', rather than simply expressing happiness.
Examples in context
- お父さん、誕生日おめでとう。プレゼントだよ。Otousan, tanjoubi omedetou. Purezento da yo.Happy birthday, father. Here is a present.
- お父さん、誕生日おめでとう！元気でいてね。Otousan, tanjoubi omedetou! Genki de ite ne.Happy birthday, father! Stay healthy.
Example conversation
Two siblings are giving a gift to their father at home.
- 大翔 Hirotoお父さん、誕生日おめでとう！Otousan, tanjoubi omedetou!Happy birthday, father!
- 結衣 Yuiお父さん、おめでとう！Otousan, omedetou!Happy birthday, father!
- 結衣 Yui大翔、プレゼントを渡して。Hiroto, purezento o watashite.Hiroto, give him the present.
- 大翔 Hirotoはい、どうぞ。Hai, douzo.Here you go.
