Translation guide
This is a seasonal greeting used around the New Year. In Japanese, it is expressed with set phrases rather than a literal translation.
Happy New Year! (before the new year)
Used before the new year begins, typically in late December.
Happy New Year! (after the new year begins)
Used from January 1st onwards. The casual form is 明けましておめでとう.
You want to express 'have a happy New Year' to someone before the new year begins, typically in late December.
This is the standard way to say 'Have a happy New Year' before the new year. It is a shortening of 良いお年をお迎えください (Please have a good new year).
Thank you for everything this year. Have a happy New Year.
A more formal and complete version of 良いお年を. Suitable for business or formal situations.
Everyone, please have a happy New Year.
You want to greet someone with 'Happy New Year' after the new year has started, typically from January 1st.
The standard polite greeting used after the new year begins. The casual form is 明けましておめでとう.
Happy New Year. I look forward to your continued friendship this year.
Another common polite greeting meaning 'Happy New Year'. Slightly more formal than 明けましておめでとうございます.
Very casual slang abbreviation of 明けましておめでとう. Used among close friends or in informal online communication.
Using 良いお年を after the new year has started, or 明けましておめでとう before the new year, is considered incorrect. Pay attention to the date when choosing which phrase to use.
After the New Year greeting, it is common to add a phrase expressing hope for continued good relations, such as 今年もよろしくお願いします (I look forward to your continued friendship this year) or 本年もどうぞよろしくお願いいたします (more formal).
Happy New Year. I look forward to working with you again this year.
Happy New Year! Let's hang out again this year.