Birthdays are special occasions that are celebrated with joy and well wishes. If you want to wish someone a happy birthday in Japanese, here are a few phrases you can use to make their day even more special.
1. お誕生日おめでとうございます (Otanjoubi omedetou gozaimasu)
This is the most common and standard way to say “Happy Birthday” in Japanese. It is a formal expression used to convey your congratulations and best wishes to the birthday person.
Examples:
- お誕生日おめでとうございます！素敵な一年になりますように。(Otanjoubi omedetou gozaimasu! Suteki na ichinen ni narimasu you ni.) – “Happy Birthday! May it be a wonderful year for you.”
- お誕生日おめでとうございます！健康と幸せがいっぱいの一年になりますように。(Otanjoubi omedetou gozaimasu! Kenkou to shiawase ga ippai no ichinen ni narimasu you ni.) – “Happy Birthday! May it be a year filled with health and happiness.”
2. 誕生日おめでとう (Tanjoubi omedetou)
This is a more casual and commonly used way to say “Happy Birthday” in Japanese. It is suitable for friends, family, and close acquaintances.
Examples:
- 誕生日おめでとう！一年中笑顔が絶えない素敵な一日になりますように。(Tanjoubi omedetou! Ichinenjuu egao ga taenai suteki na ichinichi ni narimasu you ni.) – “Happy Birthday! May it be a wonderful day filled with smiles all year round.”
- 誕生日おめでとう！夢と希望が叶う一年になりますように。(Tanjoubi omedetou! Yume to kibou ga kanau ichinen ni narimasu you ni.) – “Happy Birthday! May it be a year where dreams and hopes come true.”
3. お誕生日おめでとう (Otanjoubi omedetou)
This is a shortened and more casual version of “お誕生日おめでとうございます” (Otanjoubi omedetou gozaimasu). It is commonly used among friends and peers.
Examples:
- お誕生日おめでとう！最高の一年になりますように。(Otanjoubi omedetou! Saikou no ichinen ni narimasu you ni.) – “Happy Birthday! May it be the best year ever.”
- お誕生日おめでとう！楽しい一日を過ごしてくださいね。(Otanjoubi omedetou! Tanoshii ichinichi o sugoshite kudasai ne.) – “Happy Birthday! Have a fun-filled day.”
Conclusion
When celebrating someone’s birthday in Japanese, phrases like “お誕生日おめでとうございます” (Otanjoubi omedetou gozaimasu), “誕生日おめでとう” (Tanjoubi omedetou), or “お誕生日おめでとう” (Otanjoubi omedetou) are commonly used. Choose the phrase that suits the level of formality and the relationship you have with the person. And don’t forget to add your warm wishes and blessings to make their birthday even more special.