メリークリスマス
merī kurisumasukatakana, loanword
In Japanese, "Merry Christmas" is メリークリスマス (merī kurisumasu). It comes straight from English and is written in katakana.
People say it to friends, coworkers and partners on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, often with a short message in a card.
Meaning: Christmas greeting (phrase)
How do you pronounce it?
Japanese adds vowels, so it sounds like "meh-ree ku-ri-su-ma-su".
When do people say it?
Christmas is not a public holiday in Japan. It is popular with couples, and families commonly eat Christmas cake and fried chicken.
Did you know?
- Eating fried chicken at Christmas became a Japanese custom after a fast food chain began a Christmas campaign in the 1970s.
Examples in context
- メリークリスマス！Merī kurisumasu!Merry Christmas!
- メリークリスマス！プレゼントがあるよ。Merī kurisumasu! Purezento ga aru yo.Merry Christmas! I have a present for you.
- クリスマスケーキをたべましょう。Kurisumasu kēki o tabemashō.Let's eat Christmas cake.
Example conversation
The Sato family gathers around a Christmas cake on Christmas Eve.
- Fatherみんな、メリークリスマス！Minna, merī kurisumasu!Everyone, Merry Christmas!
- Motherメリークリスマス。ケーキをきりましょう。Merī kurisumasu. Kēki o kirimashō.Merry Christmas. Let's cut the cake.
- Daughterやった！メリークリスマス！Yatta! Merī kurisumasu!Yay! Merry Christmas!
