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.
彼女の誕生日のお祝いをした。
We had a celebration for her birthday.
おめでとう！
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'.
昨日は友達の昇進のお祝いをした。
Yesterday we had a celebration for my friend's promotion.
誕生日のお祝いにレストランに行った。
We went to a restaurant to celebrate her birthday.
A casual party or social gathering. Often used for birthdays, farewells, or other informal celebrations.
今夜はクリスマスパーティーがある。
There's a Christmas party tonight.
A formal celebration or congratulatory reception, often for achievements, anniversaries, or official events.
会社の創立50周年の祝賀会が開かれた。
A celebration was held for the company's 50th anniversary.
A formal banquet or feast to celebrate a special occasion. Often used in literary or formal contexts.
結婚の祝宴が盛大に行われた。
A grand wedding celebration was held.
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.
合格をお祝いしてケーキを買った。
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.
新年を祝うために花火を上げた。
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.
A structured event with rituals or traditions, often religious, national, or institutional.
A formal ceremony or ritual event, such as a graduation, opening ceremony, or state function.
卒業式典は午前10時から始まります。
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.
A celebratory ceremony or event, often used for national or official celebrations. Less common in daily speech.
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.
今年はお祝い事がたくさんあった。
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.
ご結婚の慶事、心よりお祝い申し上げます。
I sincerely congratulate you on your wedding celebration.
A large, often public event with entertainment, music, and activities, like a street festival or carnival.
A traditional Japanese festival, often with food stalls, games, and parades. Can also refer to any lively public celebration.
夏になると各地でお祭りが開かれる。
In summer, festivals are held everywhere.
A modern, often music or arts festival. Borrowed from English, used for large-scale events.
A carnival, often with parades and costumes. Used for events like Rio Carnival or local street carnivals.
お祝い (o-iwai) is a general celebration for personal events like birthdays or promotions. お祭り (o-matsuri) refers to traditional festivals or large public events with a lively atmosphere. Don't use お祭り for a small private party.
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.
お祝いは一晩中続いた。
The celebration lasted all night.
彼らは結婚25周年の祝賀会を開いた。
They held a celebration for their 25th wedding anniversary.
誕生日おめでとう！
Happy birthday! (lit. Congratulations on your birthday!)
この祭典は毎年多くの観光客を集める。
This festival attracts many tourists every year.
国王の戴冠祝典が行われた。
The coronation celebration of the king was held.
This year's music festival was amazing.
リオのカーニバルは世界的に有名だ。
The Rio Carnival is world-famous.