Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 明けましておめでとうございます | akemashite omedetō gozaimasu | [a̠ke̞ma̠ɕi̥te̞ o̞me̞de̞to̞ː ɡo̞za̠ima̠sɨ̥] (narrow) | formal |
| 良いお年をお迎え下さい | yoi otoshi o o-mukae kudasai | [jo̞i o̞to̞ɕi o̞ o̞mɯ̟ka̠e̞ kɯ̟da̠sa̠i] (narrow) | formal |
| 良いお年を | yoi o-toshi o | [jo̞i o̞to̞ɕi o̞] (narrow) | informal |
| 明けましておめでとう | akemashite omedetō | [a̠ke̞ma̠ɕi̥te̞ o̞me̞de̞to̞ː] (narrow) | informal |
| 賀正 | gashou | ||
| あけおめ | akeome | [a̠ke̞o̞me̞] (narrow) |
Japanese greetings for the New Year are strictly divided by timing. Once the new year has actually begun, you use 明けましておめでとうございます or its shorter forms to congratulate people. However, if you are parting ways with someone before January 1st, you should wish them a good upcoming year using 良いお年をお迎え下さい or 良いお年を. It is also very common to follow a New Year greeting with the phrase 今年もよろしくお願いします to express a desire for a continued good relationship in the coming year.
What does it mean word for word?
In the phrase 明けましておめでとうございます, the part 明けまして literally refers to the dawn of the new year.
Which one should you use?
The phrases used depend on whether the year has started. Use 明けましておめでとうございます (and its casual version 明けましておめでとう) only after the new year has actually begun. To wish someone a good year when you are parting ways before January 1st, use 良いお年をお迎え下さい or the informal 良いお年を.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For formal situations, use 明けましておめでとうございます or the formal 良いお年をお迎え下さい when speaking to someone before the year begins. The informal 明けましておめでとう or the short 良いお年を are suitable for casual settings. For very close friends or peers, the slang abbreviation あけおめ is popular, especially in texting. 賀正 is another form available.
How do you pronounce it?
akemashite omedetō gozaimasu
When do people say it?
When greeting others in the new year, it is a standard custom to express a desire for a continued good relationship by following your greeting with a phrase such as 今年もよろしくお願いします.
Did you know?
- During the first few days of January, it is traditional to give 'otoshidama' or monetary gifts to children while exchanging these greetings.
- In Japan, the New Year is the most important holiday of the year, often surpassing Christmas in cultural significance and family priority.
- The formal greeting 賀正 is primarily used in written cards called 'nengajō' and is rarely spoken aloud in conversation.
Examples in context
- あけおめ〜〜〜〜。Happy New Year!This example shows the use of the slang あけおめ.Tatoeba #9573193 by Sim5634, translation #361350 by blay_paul
- 皆さん、明けましておめでとうございます。Happy New Year, everyone.This example shows the formal greeting 明けましておめでとうございます used when addressing a group.Tatoeba #12954889 by small_snow, translation #13023124 by end
- 明けましておめでとうございます。今年もよろしくお願いします。Happy New Year. I'm looking forward to working with you again this year.This example shows how to follow the formal greeting 明けましておめでとうございます with a phrase to express looking forward to the year ahead.Tatoeba #2951454 by tommy_san, translation #10576755 by CK
- 3 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Yui and Kenta meet for the first time in the new year at their office.
- 結衣 Yui健太さん、明けましておめでとうございます。Kenta-san, akemashite omedetou gozaimasu.Kenta, happy New Year.
- 健太 Kenta結衣さんも、明けましておめでとうございます。Yui-san mo, akemashite omedetou gozaimasu.Happy New Year to you too, Yui.
- 結衣 Yui今年もよろしくお願いします。Kotoshi mo yoroshiku onegaishimasu.I look forward to working with you again this year.
- 健太 Kentaこちらこそ、よろしくお願いします。Kochira koso, yoroshiku onegaishimasu.Likewise, I look forward to working with you.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “happy new year” translations and entries 明けましておめでとうございます, 良いお年をお迎え下さい, 良いお年を, 明けましておめでとう, 賀正, あけおめ, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
