: What are the different ways to say “Happy new year” in Japanese?
I know there are multiple ways to say it, and certain times to use the phrases (like on December 31 and on January 1 there are different ways to say it, and I’m sure there are a few ways to say them).
Answers and Views:
Answer by Sanguas
Takonawa toyota ichibon
Yoi otoshi o (or the full phrase “yoi otoshi o omukae kudasai”)
You say it up to and including New Year’s Eve [Dec. 31st]
Akemashite omedetou (gozaimasu)
You say it on New Year’s day [Jan. 1st] up to about mid-January (since it’s kind of weird to wish someone a happy new year after it’s been almost a month)
Yoi otoshi o (omukae kudasai) = 良いお年を (お迎えください)
Akemashite omedetou (gozaimasu) = あけましておめでとう (ございます)
The parts in parentheses just make it more formal.
‘Happy New Year’ :
– ‘Western’ style : 新年おめでとうございます (“Shinnen omedetō gozaimasu”)
– before New Year’s Day (‘I wish you will have a good new year’) : 良いお年をお迎え下さい (“Yoi otoshi o omukae kudasai”) (formal), よいお年を (“Yoi otoshi-o”) (informal)
– after New Year’s Day (Jan.1st to 3rd, up to the middle of January, ‘Happy New Year’) : 明けましておめでとうございます (“Akemashite omedetō gozaimasu”) (formal), 明けましておめでとう (“Akemashite omedetō”) (informal), 旧年中大変お世話になりました (“Kyūnenjū taihen osewa ni narimashita”), 本年もよろしくお願いいたします (“Honnen mo yoroshiku onegai itashimasu”)
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