How to Say ‘Happy Birthday’ in Japanese
お誕生日おめでとう
おたんじょうびおめでとう
💬 Usage Tip: Combines [お誕生日] (otanjoubi) and [おめでとう] (omedetou) for a greeting.
🇯🇵 In Japan: Japanese people often exchange these wishes along with small gifts or treats.
Phrase Breakdown
お誕生日
おめでとう
Word-by-Word Breakdown
おお
[o]
honorific
A prefix indicating politeness attached to a verb or noun.
お茶をどうぞ。
Please have some tea.
誕生日たんじょうび
[tanjoubi]
birthday
The anniversary of the day on which a person was born.
今日は彼の誕生日です。
Today is his birthday.
おお
[o]
honorific
A prefix indicating politeness attached to a verb or noun.
お茶をどうぞ。
Please have some tea.
めでとうめでとう
[medetou]
congratulations
Used to express good wishes on a special occasion.
ご結婚おめでとうございます。
Congratulations on your wedding.
Get the Full Learning Experience
This lesson is just a preview. Download PrettyFluent to practice pronunciation, roleplay conversations, and master vocabulary with spaced repetition.
Pronunciation Feedback
AI-powered speech recognition to perfect your accent
Spaced Repetition
Retain vocabulary long-term with smart practice
Immersive Roleplaying
Practice real conversations with AI partners
Custom Scenarios
Request lessons tailored to your specific needs
What Learners Are Saying
“Teaching in Osaka and I wanted to connect with my students beyond the classroom. The everyday conversation scenarios made my Japanese feel natural, not textbook-y.”
Mia S., 25, English Teacher
“Moved to Tokyo and the polite vs. casual speech levels were killing me. This app breaks it all down with real scenarios. My coworkers noticed the difference in weeks.”
Kevin Z., 31, Game Developer
“I tried five different apps before this one. The roleplay conversations are what finally made things click. I actually remember what I learn now.”
Sofia R., 31, Marketing Manager