Content

• Steps
• Method 1 of 2: Happy Birthday Greetings
• Method 2 of 2: Other greetings

The standard birthday greetings in Japanese are “Tanjobi omedeto” or “Tanjobi omedeto gozaimaz”, it all depends on who you want to congratulate. There are many different greeting phrases. We will tell you how and when to use them.

Steps

Method 1 of 2: Happy Birthday Greetings

1. 1 Tell your friends "Tanjobi omedeto". This is a friendly birthday greeting.
   • Use this phrase only to congratulate friends and good acquaintances, as well as children and younger relatives.
   • Do not use this phrase to congratulate elders, strangers, bosses, teachers, and anyone else whose social position is higher than yours.
   • Tanjobi means "Birthday".
   • Omedeto means congratulations.
   • In Kanji, this phrase is written like this: 誕生 日 お め で と う.
   • Pronounced like this: tanjobi omedeto.
2. 2 More formal congratulations: "Tanjobi omedeto gozaimaz". This phrase can be used to congratulate people new to you.
   • This congratulation is suitable for those who have a higher social position in society than you.
   • This phrase expresses sincere and, at the same time, formal congratulations.
   • Gozaimaz means "very strong", i.e. the phrase is translated approximately like this: "I sincerely congratulate you on your birthday."
   • In Kanji, it is written like this: 誕生 日 お め で と う ご ざ い ま す.
   • It is pronounced like this: "tanjobi omedeto gozaimaz.

Method 2 of 2: Other greetings

1. 1 Just say "omedeto" or "omedeto gozaimaz" It's not really a happy birthday. This is just an expression of good wishes.
   • Omedeto means “congratulations.” This is an informal greeting.
   • In the hiragana language omedeto spelled お め で と う. It is pronounced like this: omedeto.
   • Gozaimaz added for a more formal sounding of the phrase. Therefore the phrase omedeto gozaimaz can be used in all situations.
   • In the hiragana language omedeto gozaimaz spelled like this: お め で と う ご ざ い ま す. Pronounced like this: omedeto gozaimaz.
2. 2 Say "yata!"This translates to" hurray! " and expresses joy.
   • In the Kana language, it is written like this: や っ た.
   • Pronounced as yata.
3. 3 If you're congratulating someone after their birthday, say okurebase. This literally translates to "late".
   • If you are late with congratulations, say “okurebase tanjobi omedeto”.
   • On kanji okurebase spelled like this: 遅 れ ば せ.
   • Pronounced as okurebase.
4. 4 Ask the age of the birthday person: "Toshii wa itsu desu ka?" This translates to "how old are you?"
   • Toshii (年) is "year" or "age."
   • Wah (は) is an article that does not translate.
   • Itsu (い く つ) translates to "how much."
   • Desu ka (で す か) is an auxiliary verb.
   • This question is pronounced like this: toshii wa itsu desu ka? "
5. 5 Find out when your friend's birthday is: "Toshii wa itsu desu ka?" That is, "When is your birthday?"
   • Toshiya (誕生 日) translates to “Birthday,” and wa (は) this is the article, desu ka (で す か) is an auxiliary verb.
   • Itsu (何時) means "when."
   • Pronounced like this: tanjobi wa itsu desu ka?