How to Say Happy Birthday in Japanese
Happy birthday in Japanese is お誕生日おめでとうございます (otanjoubi omedetou gozaimasu) in polite form, or お誕生日おめでとう (otanjoubi omedetou) casually. Japanese birthday culture has some fun differences from Western traditions.
Birthday Wishes
Different ways to wish someone a happy birthday:
| Japanese | Reading | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| お誕生日おめでとうございます | おたんじょうびおめでとうございます | otanjoubi omedetou gozaimasu | Happy birthday (polite) |
| お誕生日おめでとう | おたんじょうびおめでとう | otanjoubi omedetou | Happy birthday (casual) |
| 誕生日おめでとう | たんじょうびおめでとう | tanjoubi omedetou | Happy birthday (casual, shorter) |
| ハッピーバースデー | はっぴーばーすでー | happii baasudee | Happy birthday (English loanword) |
| おめでとう | おめでとう | omedetou | Congratulations (general) |
Birthday Culture in Japan
Birthday Vocabulary
Useful words for birthday celebrations:
| Japanese | Reading | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| 誕生日 | たんじょうび | tanjoubi | Birthday |
| プレゼント | ぷれぜんと | purezento | Present / gift |
| ケーキ | けーき | keeki | Cake |
| ろうそく | ろうそく | rousoku | Candles |
| お祝い | おいわい | oiwai | Celebration |
| 年齢 | ねんれい | nenrei | Age |
| 何歳ですか | なんさいですか | nan sai desu ka | How old are you? |
Birthday Message
A typical birthday message you might write in a card or text:
お誕生日おめでとう！素敵な一年になりますように。
Otanjoubi omedetou! Suteki na ichinen ni narimasu you ni.
"Happy birthday! I hope you have a wonderful year."
Common Questions
Do Japanese people sing Happy Birthday in Japanese or English?
Most Japanese people sing the Happy Birthday song in English. The melody is the same worldwide. Some people know a Japanese version, but the English version is far more common at birthday parties in Japan.
What is a typical birthday gift in Japan?
Common birthday gifts include sweets, accessories, flowers, and gift cards. Cash gifts (ご祝儀, goshuugi) are more common for milestone events like weddings. For close friends, personalized or handmade gifts are appreciated.
When do you use omedetou vs omedetou gozaimasu?
おめでとうございます (omedetou gozaimasu) is the polite form, used with older people, bosses, and anyone you show respect to. おめでとう (omedetou) is casual, for friends and family. The same polite/casual split applies to most Japanese expressions.
What are milestone birthdays in Japan?
Important milestone birthdays include 七五三 (shichi-go-san) at ages 3, 5, and 7 (a traditional celebration for children), 成人式 (seijin-shiki) at 18 (Coming of Age Day), and 還暦 (kanreki) at 60, when the person is said to have completed one full cycle of the Chinese zodiac.
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