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.
良いお年を
Happy New Year! (before the new year)
Used before the new year begins, typically in late December.
明けましておめでとうございます
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).
今年もありがとうございました。良いお年を。
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.
皆様、良いお年をお迎えください。
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.
明けましておめでとうございます。今年もよろしくお願いします。
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.
新年おめでとうございます。本年もどうぞよろしくお願いいたします。
Happy New Year. I look forward to working with you again this year.
Very casual slang abbreviation of 明けましておめでとう. Used among close friends or in informal online communication.
あけおめ！今年もよろしくね。
Happy New Year! Let's hang out again this year.
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).