Giving your date of birth in Japanese is not only helpful for everyday conversations but also an essential skill when filling out forms or interacting with Japanese-speaking individuals. In this guide, we will cover the formal and informal ways to express your date of birth in Japanese. We’ll also provide some tips, examples, and regional variations when necessary.
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Formal expressions to say your date of birth in Japanese:
When addressing someone formally or in situations where politeness is of utmost importance, it is crucial to use appropriate language. Here are some phrases and tips to express your date of birth formally:
Tip: In formal situations, it is common to use polite language, honorifics, and the Japanese calendar system (based on the reigns of emperors) to express your date of birth.
1. Using honorific language:
In Japanese, honorific language plays a significant role in formal expressions. When talking about your date of birth respectfully, use the honorific suffix “-san” after the person’s name. Here’s an example:
- Formal: Watashi no tanjoubi wa MM-gatsu DD-nichi desu. (私の誕生日はMM月DD日です。) – My date of birth is on MM month, DD day.
In this example, “watashi no” means “my,” and “desu” is used to state a fact politely. Replace “MM” with the month’s number, and “DD” with the day’s number.
2. Using the Japanese calendar system:
Another formal way to express your date of birth is by mentioning the era using the Japanese calendar system. Currently, the era is Reiwa (令和), which started on May 1, 2019. To express your date of birth formally, follow this structure:
- Formal: Watashi no tanjoubi wa Reiwa Gannen no MM-gatsu DD-nichi desu. (私の誕生日は令和元年のMM月DD日です。) – My date of birth is on MM month, DD day of the first year of Reiwa.
Here, “Reiwa Gannen” means the first year of Reiwa. Replace “MM” and “DD” with the respective month and day numbers.
Informal expressions to say your date of birth in Japanese:
When speaking to friends, family, or people of a similar age, you can use more casual language. Here are some phrases and tips to express your date of birth informally:
Tip: In informal situations, it is common to use simpler language and numbers for expressing your date of birth. Emoticons can also be added to convey a friendly tone.
1. Using simpler language:
When speaking informally, you can omit honorifics and use a more natural sentence structure:
- Informal: Tanjoubi wa MM-gatsu DD-nichi da yo (誕生日はMM月DD日だよ) – My date of birth is on MM month, DD day.
In this example, “da yo” adds a friendly and informal tone to the sentence.
2. Using numbers directly:
When conversing with friends, it is common to directly state the numbers without using specific words for month and day:
- Informal: Watashi no tanjoubi wa MM/DD da yo (私の誕生日はMM/DDだよ) – My date of birth is MM/DD.
In this example, “MM/DD” represents the respective month and day numbers.
Regional Variations:
In different regions of Japan, the way people express their date of birth may vary slightly. Here are some examples of regional variations:
Kansai Dialect:
- Formal: Watashi no tanjoubi wa MM-gatsu DD-nichi desu (私の誕生日はMM月DD日です) – Osaka dialect: Ware no tanjoubi wa MM-kan DD-nichi nande ya.
- Informal: Tanjoubi wa MM-gatsu DD-nichi da yo (誕生日はMM月DD日だよ) – Osaka dialect: Tanjoubi wa MM-kan DD-nichi nande ya.
In the Kansai region, people often replace “watashi no” with “ware no” and frequently use the phrase “nande ya” to convey a local flavor.
Conclusion:
Now that you have learned how to say your date of birth in Japanese, you are equipped for a variety of situations, from formal interactions to casual conversations. Remember to adjust your language based on the level of formality and the people you are speaking to. Practicing these phrases will help you communicate confidently and smoothly in Japanese! Happy language learning!
