Translation guide
Expressions of joy, triumph, or encouragement in Japanese, ranging from casual shouts to formal congratulations.
Expressing spontaneous joy, excitement, or triumph in informal situations.
The most common casual exclamation meaning 'I did it!' or 'Yay!'. Used when something goes well or you succeed.
やった！試験に合格した！
Hurray! I passed the exam!
A cute, childlike exclamation of delight, similar to 'yay' or 'woohoo'. Often used by children or in lighthearted contexts.
わーい、プレゼントだ！
Hurray, a present!
A casual 'yay' or 'yeah!' borrowed from English, used in very informal settings among friends.
いえい！勝った！
Hurray! We won!
A traditional, enthusiastic cheer often used in groups to celebrate or wish long life/prosperity.
Cheering someone on, like 'you can do it!' or 'go for it!'.
From English 'hooray', used as a cheer of encouragement, similar to 'go!' or 'come on!'. Often repeated.
フレー！フレー！
Hurray! Hurray! (Go! Go!)
Means 'do your best' or 'go for it'. While not a direct translation of 'hurray', it serves a similar encouraging function.
がんばれ！あと少し！
Hurray! Almost there! (lit. Do your best! Just a little more!)
Expressing congratulations in a more formal or polite manner, often in speeches or written messages.
The standard polite way to say 'congratulations'. Used in formal settings or to show respect.
ご卒業おめでとうございます。
Congratulations on your graduation. (Hurray for your graduation!)
やった is a personal, spontaneous 'I did it!'. 万歳 is a traditional group cheer often used at celebrations or political rallies. フレー is specifically for cheering someone on, like at a sports event.
やった！宝くじが当たった！
Hurray! I won the lottery!
万歳！日本万歳！
Hurray! Long live Japan!
フレー！フレー！赤組！
Hurray! Hurray! Red team!
There is no single Japanese word that covers all uses of 'hurray'. Using 万歳 in a casual personal success sounds overly dramatic. Use やった for personal triumphs and 万歳 only for group celebrations or formal cheers.