A1 Expression Formel

おめでとうございます

omedetou gozaimasu

Congratulations

Phrase in 30 Seconds

The essential Japanese way to say 'Congratulations' or 'Happy...' for any positive milestone or celebration.

  • Means: 'Congratulations' or 'Happy [Event]' in a polite, respectful way.
  • Used in: Birthdays, weddings, New Year's, promotions, and passing exams.
  • Don't confuse: Never use it for sad events or simple 'thank you' situations.
Good news + {笑顔|えがお} (Smile) = おめでとうございます

Explanation at your level:

This is a basic phrase to say 'Congratulations'. You use it for birthdays and good news. To be polite, always say the whole thing: 'Omedetou gozaimasu'. With friends, you can just say 'Omedetou'. It is very common and easy to use.
At this level, you should learn to combine 'Omedetou gozaimasu' with specific events. For example, 'O-tanjoubi omedetou gozaimasu' for birthdays or 'Akemashite omedetou gozaimasu' for the New Year. Remember that 'gozaimasu' makes the phrase formal and respectful for teachers and bosses.
Intermediate learners should understand the register difference between the casual 'Omedetou' and the formal 'Omedetou gozaimasu'. You should also be aware of the response: usually 'Arigatou gozaimasu' or 'Okagesama de'. It's important to use this phrase to maintain social harmony (wa) in workplace interactions.
Upper-intermediate learners should recognize the 'u-onbin' grammatical shift that transforms 'medetaku' into 'medetou'. You should also be able to use more specific variations, such as '{御|ご}{結婚|けっこん}おめでとうございます' and understand when to use the past tense 'gozaimashita' in formal written correspondence.
Advanced learners should master the nuances of 'Keigo' surrounding this expression. This includes using humble forms like 'Oiwai moushiagemasu' in highly formal or ritualistic contexts. You should also understand the cultural significance of 'Kotodama' and how the phrase functions as a social lubricant in complex hierarchical relationships.
At a near-native level, one should appreciate the etymological journey from the Heian-era 'medetashi' to the modern 'ateji' kanji {目出度い|めでたい}. Mastery involves navigating the subtle boundaries of 'Giri' (social obligation) when offering congratulations and knowing how to pair the phrase with appropriate seasonal references in high-level prose or formal speeches.

Signification

A polite phrase used to congratulate someone.

🌍

Contexte culturel

The timing of 'Omedetou' is crucial. For New Year's, it should only be said from January 1st onwards, never before the year ends. When a superior achieves something, subordinates often bow while saying 'Omedetou gozaimasu' to show physical respect alongside the words. At weddings, certain '忌み言葉' (imikotoba - taboo words) like 'cutting' or 'splitting' are avoided. 'Omedetou' is the safe, standard anchor for all speeches. On platforms like LINE, users often use 'Omedetou' stickers or stamps which feature characters like Hello Kitty or Rilakkuma holding celebratory banners.

🎯

The 'Go-' Prefix

Adding 'Go-' to the event (e.g., Go-kekkon, Go-shuppan) makes you sound like a native speaker with excellent manners.

⚠️

Don't be too early!

Never say 'Akemashite omedetou' before midnight on New Year's Eve. Use 'Yoi otoshi wo' instead.

Signification

A polite phrase used to congratulate someone.

🎯

The 'Go-' Prefix

Adding 'Go-' to the event (e.g., Go-kekkon, Go-shuppan) makes you sound like a native speaker with excellent manners.

⚠️

Don't be too early!

Never say 'Akemashite omedetou' before midnight on New Year's Eve. Use 'Yoi otoshi wo' instead.

💬

The Response

If someone says this to you, a simple 'Arigatou gozaimasu' is perfect. Don't just nod!

Teste-toi

Fill in the blank to wish your teacher a Happy Birthday.

先生、お{誕生日|たんじょうび} [ ]。

✓ Correct ! ✗ Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte : おめでとうございます

Since you are speaking to a teacher (sensei), you must use the formal 'gozaimasu'.

Match the situation to the correct phrase.

Situation: Your friend just told you they passed their driving test.

✓ Correct ! ✗ Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte : {合格|ごうかく}おめでとう！

'Goukaku' means passing an exam or test.

Complete the New Year dialogue.

A: あけましておめでとうございます。 B: [ ]。今年もよろしくお願いします。

✓ Correct ! ✗ Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte : あけましておめでとうございます

The standard response to a New Year greeting is to repeat the same greeting back.

Which of these is the most formal way to congratulate someone on their wedding?

Choose the best option:

✓ Correct ! ✗ Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte : ご結婚おめでとうございます

Adding the honorific 'Go-' and the polite 'gozaimasu' makes it the most formal.

🎉 Score : /4

Aides visuelles

When to say Omedetou

🏠

Life Events

  • • Wedding
  • • New Baby
  • • New House
🏆

Success

  • • Promotion
  • • Passing Exam
  • • Winning Game
📅

Calendar

  • • Birthday
  • • New Year
  • • Graduation

Questions fréquentes

10 questions

Yes, 'Shoushin omedetou gozaimasu' is the standard way to congratulate a colleague.

Yes, 'Omedetou' is perfect for friends. You can even shorten it to 'Ome!' in texts.

It is a polite auxiliary verb that shows respect to the person you are speaking to.

Absolutely not. It is only for happy, auspicious occasions.

Say 'O-tanjoubi omedetou gozaimasu'.

It's an adjective meaning 'joyous' or 'happy', but it can also mean 'naive' in some slang contexts.

A slight nod or bow is common and polite, especially in formal settings.

Yes, 'Sotsugyou omedetou gozaimasu' is exactly what you should say.

Yes, 'Omedetou gozaimashita', but 'gozaimasu' is more common even for past events.

Yes, but always use the full 'Omedetou gozaimasu'.

Expressions liées

🔗

お{祝|いわ}い

similar

A celebration or a celebratory gift.

🔗

よかったですね

builds on

That's great / I'm glad for you.

🔗

お{幸|しあわ}せに

specialized form

I wish you happiness.

🔗

万歳

contrast

Hurrah! / Long life!

Où l'utiliser

🎂

Friend's Birthday

A: 今日、私の{誕生日|たんじょうび}なんだ。

B: 本当？おめでとう！

informal
🎍

New Year's Greeting

Neighbor: あけましておめでとうございます。

You: あ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。

formal
📈

Co-worker's Promotion

You: {田中|たなか}さん、{昇進|しょうしん}おめでとうございます！

Tanaka: ありがとうございます。おかげさまで。

formal
💍

Wedding Reception

You: ご{結婚|けっこん}、おめでとうございます。

Groom: ありがとうございます。今日は来てくれてうれしいです。

formal
💮

Passing an Exam

Student: N1に{合格|ごうかく}しました！

Teacher: すごいですね！おめでとうございます！

neutral
👶

Baby Announcement

Friend: {赤ちゃん|あかちゃん}が{生|う}まれました。

You: おめでとうございます！かわいいでしょうね。

formal

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of 'O-MEDE-TOU' as 'Oh, MEDal for TOU (you)'. You give a medal when someone does something great!

Visual Association

Imagine a giant red and white 'Kusudama' (celebratory paper ball) bursting open with confetti and a banner that says 'OMEDETOU'.

Rhyme

When they win or grow, say Omedetou!

Story

You see your friend win a race. You want to give them a 'MEDal' (Mede). As you hand it to them, you say 'TOU' (like 'to you'). Add 'Gozaimasu' to make it a fancy, polite medal ceremony.

Word Web

めでたいお祝い誕生日結婚合格ありがとうございますプレゼントパーティー

Défi

Find three Japanese social media posts today about good news and leave a comment saying 'おめでとうございます！'

In Other Languages

English high

Congratulations / Happy [Event]

Japanese uses one phrase for both 'Congratulations' and 'Happy [Holiday]'.

Spanish high

¡Felicidades! / ¡Enhorabuena!

Spanish distinguishes between general happiness and specific achievement more often.

French moderate

Félicitations ! / Bon anniversaire !

French requires different adjectives for holidays versus achievements.

German high

Herzlichen Glückwunsch!

The German phrase literally wishes 'luck', while Japanese describes the event as 'auspicious'.

Arabic high

مبروك (Mabrouk)

Arabic usage is often tied to religious blessings (Barakah).

Chinese high

恭喜 (Gōngxǐ)

Chinese often doubles the phrase (Gongxi Gongxi) for emphasis.

Korean high

축하합니다 (Chukha-hamnida)

Korean is a verb-based expression ('to celebrate'), while Japanese is adjective-based.

Portuguese high

Parabéns!

In Portugal, 'Parabéns' is almost exclusively for birthdays; 'Felicidades' is for weddings.

Easily Confused

おめでとうございます vs お大事に

Both start with 'O' and are used in response to personal news.

Use 'O-daiji-ni' for sickness (Get well soon) and 'Omedetou' for success.

おめでとうございます vs お疲れ様です

Both are common workplace greetings.

Use 'Otsukaresama' for finishing work and 'Omedetou' for special achievements.

FAQ (10)

Yes, 'Shoushin omedetou gozaimasu' is the standard way to congratulate a colleague.

Yes, 'Omedetou' is perfect for friends. You can even shorten it to 'Ome!' in texts.

It is a polite auxiliary verb that shows respect to the person you are speaking to.

Absolutely not. It is only for happy, auspicious occasions.

Say 'O-tanjoubi omedetou gozaimasu'.

It's an adjective meaning 'joyous' or 'happy', but it can also mean 'naive' in some slang contexts.

A slight nod or bow is common and polite, especially in formal settings.

Yes, 'Sotsugyou omedetou gozaimasu' is exactly what you should say.

Yes, 'Omedetou gozaimashita', but 'gozaimasu' is more common even for past events.

Yes, but always use the full 'Omedetou gozaimasu'.

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