あなたの誕生日はいつですか？
anata no tanjōbi wa itsu desu ka?
To ask "when is your birthday?" in Japanese, use あなたの誕生日はいつですか？ (anata no tanjōbi wa itsu desu ka?)
This phrase is used to inquire about the specific date of someone's birth. In natural Japanese conversation, the word anata (you) is often omitted if it is clear who you are talking to.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of tanjōbi, which means "birthday" and itsu, which means "when".
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For a more formal and respectful tone, you can use お誕生日はいつですか？ or いつお誕生日ですか？ These versions use the honorific prefix o added to tanjōbi to show politeness toward the listener. Conversely, in informal settings, you may use 誕生日はいつ？ or いつ誕生日？
How do you pronounce it?
anata no tanjōbi wa itsu desu ka?
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often over-use anata (you). In Japanese, using anata can sound confrontational or overly direct if the person's name is known.
Did you know?
- In traditional Japanese culture, the concept of a 'birthday' was not widely celebrated until the Meiji era, as people historically tracked age by the lunar calendar and celebrated everyone's age increasing on New Year's Day.
- The number 9 is also frequently avoided in dates because its reading, ku, can be associated with the word for 'suffering' or 'agony'.
- If you ask someone's birthday and they answer with their zodiac sign, they are likely using the eto system. This involves twelve animals that represent different years in the lunar cycle.
Examples in context
- あなたの誕生日はいつですか？anata no tanjoubi wa itsu desu ka?When is your birthday?
- すみません、あなたの誕生日はいつですか？sumimasen, anata no tanjoubi wa itsu desu ka?Excuse me, when is your birthday?
- 教えてください、あなたの誕生日はいつですか？oshiete kudasai, anata no tanjoubi wa itsu desu ka?Please tell me, when is your birthday?
Example conversation
Misaki and Yota are getting to know each other.
- 美咲 Misaki陽太さん、あなたの誕生日はいつですか？Yota-san, anata no tanjōbi wa itsu desu ka?Yota, when is your birthday?
- 陽太 Yota私の誕生日は十月五日です。Watashi no tanjōbi wa jūgatsu itsuka desu.My birthday is October 5th.
- 美咲 Misakiそうなんですね！もうすぐですね。Sō nan desu ne! Mō sugu desu ne.I see! It's coming up soon.
- 陽太 Yotaはい、楽しみです。Hai, tanoshimi desu.Yes, I'm looking forward to it.
