ご健康をお祈り申し上げます
Gokenkō o oinori mōshiagemasu
In Japanese, "I wish you good health" is said as ご健康をお祈り申し上げます (Gokenkō o oinori mōshiagemasu).
This phrase is used to express sincere concern for someone's well-being. It is commonly found in seasonal greetings or at the end of a letter to wish for the recipient's continued or improved health.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of go-kenkō (honorific health), o (the object marker), oinori (prayer or wish) and mōshiagemasu (a humble verb meaning to say or do something for a superior).
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
ご健康をお祈り申し上げます is a highly formal expression. It is intended for written correspondence, such as formal emails, cards or letters, rather than for casual spoken conversation.
How does it change in a sentence?
The prefix go- attached to kenkō serves as an honorific marker to show respect toward the recipient's health.
How do you pronounce it?
Gokenkō o oinori mōshiagemasu
Did you know?
- While ご健康をお祈り申し上げます is common in letters, Japanese speakers avoid using the word 'health' 健康 when visiting a sick person in the hospital, as it can imply a pressure to recover quickly.
- In Japan, expressing a wish for health via お祈り (prayer) is standard in professional letters, even if the sender is not religious. It is treated as a linguistic way to express deep sincerity rather than a literal religious act.
- In formal correspondence, this phrase is often preceded by a specific mention of the current season or weather, as Japanese etiquette requires connecting a wish for health to the changing climate.
Examples in context
- お元気でいてくださいませPlease stay in good health.
- 皆様のご健康をお祈り申し上げます。Minasama no gokenkou o oinori moushiagemasu.I wish you all good health.
- 末永いご健康をお祈り申し上げます。Suenagai gokenkou o oinori moushiagemasu.I wish you continued good health.
- 皆様のご健康をお祈り申し上げますとともに、ご多幸をお祈りいたします。Minasama no gokenkou o oinori moushiagemasu to tomo ni, gotakou o oinori itashimasu.I wish you good health and happiness.
Example conversation
Kenta sends a formal greeting card to Himari's family.
- 健太 Kenta陽葵さん、ご家族のご健康をお祈り申し上げます。Himari-san, gokazoku no gokenkou o oinori moushiagemasu.Himari, I wish your family good health.
- 陽葵 Himari健太さん、温かいお言葉をありがとうございます。Kenta-san, atatakai okotoba o arigatou gozaimasu.Kenta, thank you for your kind words.
- 健太 Kentaまたお会いできる日を楽しみにしています。Mata oaidekiru hi o tanoshimi ni shite imasu.I look forward to the day we can meet again.
- 陽葵 Himariはい、私も楽しみにしています。Hai, watashi mo tanoshimi ni shite imasu.Yes, I am looking forward to it too.
