Birthdays are special occasions to show your love and appreciation for your friends. If you want to surprise your Japanese friend on their birthday, saying “Happy Birthday” in their native language can bring a smile to their face. In this guide, we will explore the formal and informal ways to wish someone a happy birthday in Japanese, provide regional variations if necessary, and offer helpful tips and examples to ensure your message is perfect.
Table of Contents
Formal Ways to Say Happy Birthday
When addressing someone formally, it’s important to use polite language and expressions. Here’s how you can say “Happy Birthday” to a friend in a formal manner:
Tanjoubi omedetou gozaimasu (誕生日おめでとうございます)
Congratulations on your birthday (literal translation)
This is the standard phrase used in formal situations such as with acquaintances, colleagues, or anyone with whom you want to maintain a respectful tone.
When speaking casually with close friends or peers, you can use a shorter and more colloquial expression, while still maintaining a level of politeness:
Tanjoubi omedetou (誕生日おめでとう)
Happy Birthday (lit. Congratulations on your birthday)
While this version is less formal, it is still polite and appropriate for most casual settings.
Informal Ways to Say Happy Birthday
If you have a close relationship or an informal friendship with the person, you can use a more casual expression to wish them a happy birthday:
Otanjoubi omedetou (お誕生日おめでとう)
Happy Birthday (casual version)
This expression drops the formality but maintains politeness. It is suitable to use with friends, siblings, and close acquaintances.
Alternatively, you can use an even more intimate way to say happy birthday to a close friend:
Tanjobi omedetou (たんじょうびおめでとう)
Happy Birthday (very casual version)
This variant is commonly used between best friends, siblings, or people with extremely close relationships. It adds a sense of familiarity and warmth.
Tips for Saying Happy Birthday in Japanese
1. Add the person’s name: To make your message more personal, always include the recipient’s name after the birthday greeting.
Example: “Tanjoubi omedetou gozaimasu, [Name]-san.”
2. Bow with respect: In Japanese culture, it’s customary to bow when offering greetings or congratulations. When saying happy birthday, accompany your words with a slight bow to show sincerity and respect.
3. Use honorifics: Adding “-san” after someone’s name is a common honorific in Japanese, signifying respect. When addressing someone formally, always use their last name followed by “-san” (e.g., “Yamada-san”). For close friends, you may use their first name followed by “-san” or remove the honorific altogether.
4. Consider their age: Age plays a significant role in Japanese culture, and it’s customary to acknowledge a person’s milestone birthdays. Specific phrases are used for certain ages, such as “還暦 (kanreki)” for 60th birthday and “米寿 (beiju)” for 88th birthday.
Examples of Birthday Messages
Now, let’s see some examples of how to incorporate the phrases we’ve learned into complete birthday messages:
1. Formal:
“Dear [Friend’s Name],
Tanjoubi omedetou gozaimasu! I wish you a wonderful birthday filled with joy and success. May all your dreams come true in this new year of your life. Thank you for being an amazing friend.
Warmest regards, [Your Name]”
2. Informal:
“Hey [Friend’s Name],
Tanjoubi omedetou! I hope you have the best birthday ever! Let’s celebrate together and create fantastic memories. You’re an incredible friend, and I’m grateful to have you in my life.
Happy birthday!
[Your Name]”
Regional Variations
While the above phrases can apply nationwide, there might be regional variations in specific areas of Japan, where local dialects and customs differ. However, for everyday use, the standard expressions mentioned earlier will suffice in any region of Japan.
Remember, the most important aspect of wishing someone a happy birthday is sincerity, regardless of the language you use. Your thoughtful message and warm wishes will surely make your friend’s day extraordinary.
Now armed with your knowledge of birthday greetings in Japanese, go ahead and make your friend feel loved and appreciated on their special day!
