Q&A for How to Say Happy Birthday in Japanese

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How do I write 'mum and dad'?

Community Answer

Formally, it would be お母さん(Mother) と(and) お父さん(Father). This is pronounced Okaasan and Otousan. You can also use はは for Mom and ちち for Dad in informal situations. This is pronounced Haha and Chichi.

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How do I say "I love you" in Japanese?

Community Answer

You can say "daisuki" for friends and people you like, "aishiteru" in a more serious relationship, and "koishiteru" to the person that you want to spend the rest of your life with.

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Question

How do I say happy birthday in Japanese?

Community Answer

Tanjobi Omedeto Gozaimasu.

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When do I add -san to a person's name?

Community Answer

You use -san when someone is older than you to show them respect. For example, your older sister has a friend come over. Address her friend as [name]-san.

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Question

How do I say"Happy Birthday Linda!" In Japanese?

Community Answer

Say "Linda san, o tan-jo-bee o-may-day-toe" and bow a little.

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Question

How do I write 'I love you' in Japanese?

Emily Andrews

Community Answer

It depends on who you're talking to. "大スキ" (だいすき/daisuki) is meant for a friend or your small crushes. This can also be shortened to just "スキ" (すき/suki) and is normally written in katakana instead of kanji and katakana. "愛してる" (あいしてる/Aishiteru) is mean to be said if you're dating someone or other, and "恋してる" (こいしてる/koishiteru) is used in a proposal, formally by a man but sometimes by a female in a lesbian relationship.

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Question

How can I say "happy birthday" and "I miss you, best friend" in Japanese?

Community Answer

"Otanjoubi name-san. Aitakatta, watashi no ichiban tomodachi desu." It may also be fine to just say, "Aitakatta, tomodachi."

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Can -san can be used for both men and women of all ages?

Community Answer

Yes. It's the most basic honorific in Japanese. If you're not sure, always go with last name -san.

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Question

When I congratulate someone on her/his birthday, can I put his/her name on the end?

Community Answer

Yes, you can definitely add their name to the end.

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Can (name)-san be used for both genders and all ages?

Community Answer

Yes to both genders, but "-san" is meant to be used for someone older than you as a sign of respect.

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Question

When saying the date of a birthday in Japanese, does the month come first or the day?

Community Answer

The order of the date in Japan is the opposite of how the date is written in Europe. The year comes first, then the month and finally the day.

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