How to say happy birthday in Japanese
お誕生日おめでとう
Say it like this: oh-TAN-joe-bee oh-meh-DEH-toe
To say happy birthday in Japanese, you say "お誕生日おめでとう" (otanjoubi omedetou). In Japanese, how polite you are matters, so it helps to know a casual form for friends and a polite form for everyone else. Here are both, and more.
"誕生日" (tanjoubi) means birthday, and the "お" (o) at the front makes it a little more polite. "おめでとう" (omedetou) means congratulations.
Other ways to say happy birthday in Japanese
- お誕生日おめでとうございます (otanjoubi omedetou gozaimasu)Say it like this: oh-TAN-joe-bee oh-meh-DEH-toe goh-ZAI-massThe polite form. Use it for a boss, a teacher, an older person or anyone you do not know well.
- 誕生日おめでとう (tanjoubi omedetou)Say it like this: TAN-joe-bee oh-meh-DEH-toeCasual, without the polite "o" at the front. Fine for close friends and family.
- おたおめ (otaome)Say it like this: oh-tah-OH-mehVery casual slang, short for the full greeting. Mostly used by young people in texts.
- ハッピーバースデー (happii baasudee)Say it like this: HAP-pee BAA-su-dayThe English words said the Japanese way. Common and friendly.
- 素敵な一年になりますように (suteki na ichinen ni narimasu you ni)Say it like this: soo-TEH-kee nah ee-CHEE-nen nee nah-ree-MASS yoh neeMeans "I hope you have a wonderful year". A lovely line to add in a card.
- これからもよろしく (kore kara mo yoroshiku)Say it like this: koh-reh KAH-rah moh yoh-ROH-shkooRoughly "let's keep being friends". Warm and natural to end a message to a friend.
The Happy Birthday song in Japanese
ハッピーバースデートゥーユー
ハッピーバースデートゥーユー
ハッピーバースデーディア [name]
ハッピーバースデートゥーユー
In Japan, people almost always sing the English song, said in a Japanese way. That is why the lines are written in katakana, the script used for words from other languages.
Birthday customs
- In Japan, the most popular birthday cake is a strawberry shortcake: soft sponge with whipped cream and fresh strawberries on top.
- Japan holds "Shichi-Go-San" in November, a festival for children aged three, five and seven. Families visit a shrine to pray for the child's health.
- In Japan, a 60th birthday is called "kanreki". It marks a full cycle of the traditional calendar, and the person is often given something red to wear.
- Japan celebrates "Coming of Age Day" in January for young people becoming adults, often with smart suits or a kimono and a city ceremony.
A quick tip
If you are not sure which form to use, choose the polite "お誕生日おめでとうございます". It is never rude, even with friends, while the casual form can sound too familiar with a boss.
Questions people ask
How do you say happy birthday in Japanese to a friend?
Say "誕生日おめでとう" (tanjoubi omedetou) or the full "お誕生日おめでとう". Young friends may also text "おたおめ".
Why is "u" sometimes silent?
In "gozaimasu", the final u is barely said, so it sounds like goh-ZAI-mass. This is very common in Japanese.
What do you say back?
Say "ありがとう" (ah-ree-GAH-toe), which means thank you. The polite form is "ありがとうございます" (ah-ree-GAH-toe goh-ZAI-mass).
Wish someone happy birthday in Japanese
Type their name, and we will turn it into a birthday surprise in Japanese: a gift box to open, confetti, their name in gold and the birthday song. Then send it by WhatsApp, text or email. It is free.