Translation guide
The English word 'celebration' covers a range of events and actions, from formal ceremonies to casual parties. In Japanese, the best word depends on the context: whether it's a festive event, a formal ceremony, the act of celebrating, or a personal milestone.
We had a celebration for her birthday.
Congratulations!
A joyful gathering or event to mark a special occasion, like a birthday, anniversary, or holiday.
A general term for a celebration or congratulatory event. Can be used for parties, gatherings, or the act of celebrating. Often combined with する to mean 'to celebrate'.
Yesterday we had a celebration for my friend's promotion.
A casual party or social gathering. Often used for birthdays, farewells, or other informal celebrations.
A formal celebration or congratulatory reception, often for achievements, anniversaries, or official events.
A formal banquet or feast to celebrate a special occasion. Often used in literary or formal contexts.
The action of showing happiness or marking a special occasion, often through words, gestures, or activities.
The verb form meaning 'to celebrate' or 'to congratulate'. Used for both events and personal milestones.
A structured event with rituals or traditions, often religious, national, or institutional.
A significant life event or accomplishment that is marked with joy, such as a wedding, birth, or promotion.
A general term for a happy event or occasion worth celebrating. Often used for personal milestones.
A large, often public event with entertainment, music, and activities, like a street festival or carnival.
The celebration lasted all night.
We went to a restaurant to celebrate her birthday.
今夜はクリスマスパーティーがある。
There's a Christmas party tonight.
A celebration was held for the company's 50th anniversary.
結婚の祝宴が盛大に行われた。
A grand wedding celebration was held.
I bought a cake to celebrate passing the exam.
A verb meaning 'to celebrate' or 'to congratulate'. Slightly more formal than お祝いする. Often used in set phrases.
We set off fireworks to celebrate the new year.
The standard way to say 'congratulations'. Used to express joy for someone's achievement or happy event. Can be made more polite: おめでとうございます.
Happy birthday! (lit. Congratulations on your birthday!)
A formal ceremony or ritual event, such as a graduation, opening ceremony, or state function.
The graduation ceremony will begin at 10 a.m.
A festival or grand ceremony, often with cultural or religious significance. Can refer to large-scale public celebrations.
This festival attracts many tourists every year.
A celebratory ceremony or event, often used for national or official celebrations. Less common in daily speech.
The coronation celebration of the king was held.
We had many celebrations this year.
A formal term for a happy event or auspicious occasion, such as a wedding or birth. Often used in written invitations or announcements.
I sincerely congratulate you on your wedding celebration.
A traditional Japanese festival, often with food stalls, games, and parades. Can also refer to any lively public celebration.
In summer, festivals are held everywhere.
A modern, often music or arts festival. Borrowed from English, used for large-scale events.
This year's music festival was amazing.
A carnival, often with parades and costumes. Used for events like Rio Carnival or local street carnivals.
The Rio Carnival is world-famous.
summer festival
English often uses 'celebration' where Japanese would use a more specific word or phrase. For example, 'celebration of life' is often 偲ぶ会 (shinobukai, memorial gathering), not a direct translation. Always consider the nature of the event.
They held a celebration for their 25th wedding anniversary.