In Japanese, there are different ways to say ‘congratulations’ depending on the context and the level of formality. Here are some common expressions to celebrate achievements:
Congratulations:
おめでとう (Omedetou)
This is the most common and versatile way to say ‘congratulations’ in Japanese. It can be used for various occasions, such as birthdays, weddings, graduations, promotions, and other milestones.
Additional Polite Forms:
To make your congratulations more polite and respectful, you can add the polite suffix ‘-ます (masu)’ to ‘おめでとう (Omedetou)’:
おめでとう (Omedetou) → おめでとうございます (Omedetou gozaimasu)
Specific Occasions:
誕生日おめでとう (Tanjoubi omedetou)
This phrase means ‘happy birthday’ and is used to congratulate someone on their birthday.
結婚おめでとう (Kekkon omedetou)
This phrase means ‘congratulations on your wedding’ and is used to celebrate someone’s marriage.
卒業おめでとう (Sotsugyou omedetou)
This phrase means ‘congratulations on your graduation’ and is used to celebrate someone’s completion of their studies.
昇進おめでとう (Shoushin omedetou)
This phrase means ‘congratulations on your promotion’ and is used to celebrate someone’s advancement in their career.
Combining Congratulations and Thank You:
When someone congratulates you, you can respond with a polite ‘thank you’ using the phrase ‘おめでとうございます (Omedetou gozaimasu)’ to show appreciation for their well-wishes.
Remember that offering congratulations in Japanese culture is an important aspect of social interaction and expressing joy for someone’s accomplishments. Using the appropriate expression will show respect and cultural awareness when celebrating achievements with others.
