Greetings for Special Occasions

Greeting with appropriate words is important for socializing. Here are some useful expressions for special occasions.

Omedetou gozaimasu. おめでとうございます。..........Congratulations. Omedetou. おめでとう。..........Congratulations.(casual) The form "gozaimasu（ございます）" is more polite. It is added when you are talking with somebody who is not a family members or a close friend. To reply, "Arigatou gozaimasu（ありがとうございます）" or "Arigatou（ありがとう）" is used. . O-tanjoubi omedetou gozaimasu. お誕生日おめでとうございます。 (formal)...........................Happy Birthday. Tanjoubi omedetou. 誕生日おめでとう。 (casual)...........................Happy Birthday. Go-kekkon omedetou gozaimasu. ご結婚おめでとうございます。 (formal)...........................Congratulations on your wedding. Kekkon omedetou. 結婚おめでとう。...........................Congratulations on your wedding. (casual) The honorific "o（お）" or "go（ご）" can be attached to the front of some nouns as a formal way of saying "your". It is very polite.

Guai wa ikaga desu ka.
具合はどうですか。.............How are you feeling?(Literally means,
How is your condition?)

Kaze wa dou desu ka.
風邪はどうですか。.............How is your cold?

Okagesama de yoku narimashita.
おかげさまでよくなりました。 Thanks to your help,I have gotten better.


"Okagesama de（おかげさまで）" can be used whenever you announce good news in answer to someone's concerned inquiry.

Odaiji ni.
お大事に。 Please take care of yourself.

To reply "Odaiji ni（お大事に）", "Arigatou gozaimasu（ありがとうございます）" is used.

Seeing someone after a long absence

Gobusata shite imasu.
ご無沙汰しています。
(very formal)...................I haven't seen you in a long time.

Ohisashiburi desu.
お久しぶりです。
(formal)........................Long time no see.

Hisashiburi!
久しぶり！.......................Long time no see.
(casual)


There is a Japanese song titled "Ohisashiburi ne（お久しぶりね）". "Ne（ね）" is a sentence particle. Ne is used to seek confirmation and is similar to English expressions such as "right?" or "don't you agree?".
To reply to "Gobusata shite imasu," "Kochira koso (Same here)" is used. In casual conversations among friends, simply repeat "Hisashiburi!" or "Hisashiburi ne".

The New Year is the most important time of the year in Japan. (just like Christmas in the west).

At the end of the year:

Yoi otoshi o omukae kudasai.
よいお年をお迎えください。
(formal)...............I wish you will have a good new year.

Yoi otoshi o!
よいお年を！
(casual)...............I wish you will have a good new year.


During New Year's days (Jan.1st to 3rd), up to the middle of January:

Akemashite omedetou gozaimasu.
あけましておめでとうございます。
(formal).........................Happy New Year.

Akemashite omedetou.
あけましておめでとう。
(casual)


"Akemasu" literally means "to open". "Kotoshi mo yoroshiku onegaishimasu (I look forward to our continued relationship over this year)" is often added after "Akemashite omedetou gozaimasu". To reply, "Kochira koso" is used.