Hello, I’m Kodak.
You may already know that おめでとう (omedetou) is connected with happy occasions. But when you try to use it, several questions quickly appear.
おめでとう means “Congratulations!”
When you put the happy occasion before it, the meaning becomes more specific:
誕生日おめでとう ⇒ Happy birthday!
卒業おめでとう ⇒ Congratulations on your graduation!
おめでとう (omedetou) means “Congratulations!”
おめでとうございます (omedetou gozaimasu) is the polite form.
To say “Happy birthday,” use お誕生日おめでとう (otanjoubi omedetou) or the more polite お誕生日おめでとうございます.
The search phrase “omedetou tanjoubi” has unnatural word order. In Japanese, say tanjoubi omedetou, with the occasion first.
This article explains the meaning, origin, pronunciation, politeness, natural word order, birthday messages, and other common ways to use おめでとう.
What Does Omedetou Mean in Japanese?
Hiragana: おめでとう
Romaji: omedetou / omedetō
Meaning: Congratulations!
Natural feeling: “This is a happy event worth celebrating!”
おめでとう is a greeting used when something happy or worthy of celebration happens to another person.
合格おめでとう！
Gōkaku omedetou!
Congratulations on passing!
卒業おめでとう！
Sotsugyō omedetou!
Congratulations on your graduation!
お誕生日おめでとう！
Otanjoubi omedetou!
Happy birthday!
It is a congratulatory greeting, so it is closer to “Congratulations!” than the adjective “happy.”
In English, “Happy birthday” uses the word happy, but Japanese expresses the same idea as “Congratulations on your birthday.”
Omedetou Gozaimasu Meaning: The Polite Form
Hiragana: おめでとうございます
Romaji: omedetou gozaimasu
Meaning: Congratulations.
Tone: polite and respectful
ございます makes the expression more polite. It does not mean “very,” so おめでとうございます is not literally “many congratulations.” The important difference is the relationship between the speaker and listener.
Casual: friends, family, children, close coworkers
おめでとうございます
Polite: teachers, supervisors, customers, acquaintances, older people, formal occasions
It may sound playfully formal, especially if you suddenly use it with someone you normally speak casually to. The tone can feel warm, humorous, or ceremonious depending on the situation.
先輩、ご結婚おめでとうございます。
Senpai, go-kekkon omedetou gozaimasu.
Congratulations on your marriage.
先生、受賞おめでとうございます。
Sensei, jushō omedetou gozaimasu.
Congratulations on receiving the award.
A useful beginner rule is:
Close relationship ⇒ おめでとう
Polite relationship ⇒ おめでとうございます
How to Say “Happy Birthday” in Japanese
The most common birthday expressions are:
Tanjoubi omedetou!
Happy birthday! — casual
お誕生日おめでとう！
Otanjoubi omedetou!
Happy birthday! — friendly and slightly more polished
お誕生日おめでとうございます。
Otanjoubi omedetou gozaimasu.
Happy birthday. — polite
誕生日 + おめでとう
So use tanjoubi omedetou, not omedetou tanjoubi.
Happy + birthday
Japanese pattern
Birthday + congratulations
誕生日 + おめでとう
Both 誕生日おめでとう and お誕生日おめでとう are natural. The version with お is very common in birthday greetings and cards.
Which Birthday Phrase Should a Beginner Use?
お誕生日おめでとう！
To a teacher, supervisor, or older acquaintance:
お誕生日おめでとうございます。
In a casual text message:
誕生日おめでとう！
On a polite birthday card:
お誕生日おめでとうございます。
Natural Birthday Messages in Japanese
Simple Birthday Messages
お誕生日おめでとう！
Otanjoubi omedetou!
Happy birthday!
お誕生日おめでとうございます！
Otanjoubi omedetou gozaimasu!
Happy birthday!
Warm Messages for a Friend
お誕生日おめでとう！素敵な一年になりますように。
Otanjoubi omedetou! Suteki na ichinen ni narimasu yō ni.
Happy birthday! I hope you have a wonderful year.
誕生日おめでとう！これからもよろしくね。
Tanjoubi omedetou! Kore kara mo yoroshiku ne.
Happy birthday! I hope we continue to be good friends.
〇〇ちゃん、お誕生日おめでとう！また一緒に遊ぼうね。
〇〇-chan, otanjoubi omedetou! Mata issho ni asobō ne.
Happy birthday, 〇〇! Let’s hang out again.
Polite Birthday Messages
お誕生日おめでとうございます。幸せな一年になりますように。
Otanjoubi omedetou gozaimasu. Shiawase na ichinen ni narimasu yō ni.
Happy birthday. I hope the coming year will be a happy one.
お誕生日おめでとうございます。ますますのご活躍をお祈りしています。
Otanjoubi omedetou gozaimasu. Masumasu no go-katsuyaku o oinori shite imasu.
Happy birthday. I wish you continued success.
In a birthday message, 一年 means the year of the person’s life beginning with this birthday, not necessarily January through December.
Belated and Early Birthday Messages
遅くなったけど、誕生日おめでとう！
Osoku natta kedo, tanjoubi omedetou!
This is late, but happy birthday!
少し早いけど、お誕生日おめでとう！
Sukoshi hayai kedo, otanjoubi omedetou!
It is a little early, but happy birthday!
When Do Japanese People Say Omedetou?
おめでとう is used for many happy milestones, not only birthdays.
お誕生日おめでとう。
Happy birthday.
Marriage
ご結婚おめでとうございます。
Congratulations on your marriage.
Graduation
卒業おめでとう。
Congratulations on your graduation.
Passing an exam
合格おめでとう。
Congratulations on passing.
Entering school
ご入学おめでとうございます。
Congratulations on entering school.
Winning
優勝おめでとう！
Congratulations on winning the championship!
New baby
ご出産おめでとうございます。
Congratulations on the birth of your baby.
New Year
あけましておめでとうございます。
Happy New Year.
It is best to learn common combinations such as 誕生日おめでとう, 卒業おめでとう, and 合格おめでとう as complete phrases.
The Grammar Pattern: [Happy Occasion] + Omedetou
誕生日 + おめでとう
卒業 + おめでとう
合格 + おめでとう
優勝 + おめでとう
This is not a complete sentence in the same way as a standard subject–verb sentence. It is a fixed congratulatory pattern, similar to saying “Congratulations on your graduation!” in English.
In more formal language, you may see a longer structure using ～をお祝い申し上げます, but beginners do not need it for normal conversation.
ご卒業を心よりお祝い申し上げます。
Go-sotsugyō o kokoro yori oiwai mōshiagemasu.
I offer my heartfelt congratulations on your graduation.
Origin and Etymology of Omedetou
おめでとう developed from the adjective おめでたい, meaning that something is joyful, auspicious, or worthy of celebration.
めづ／愛づ
to admire, love, or be deeply moved by something
↓
めでいたし
an older form expressing something greatly admirable
↓
めでたい
admirable; splendid; joyful; worthy of celebration
↓
おめでたい
the polite or beautified form
↓
おめでたく
the adverbial form
↓
おめでとう
the sound-changed form used as a congratulatory greeting
Do not divide them into separate kanji meanings to explain the origin. Modern Japanese normally writes the greeting entirely in hiragana: おめでとう.
Omedetou vs Omedetai
A greeting: “Congratulations!”
おめでたい
An adjective: auspicious, joyful, worthy of celebration
今日はおめでたい日です。
Kyō wa omedetai hi desu.
Today is an auspicious and happy day.
ご結婚おめでとうございます。
Go-kekkon omedetou gozaimasu.
Congratulations on your marriage.
That negative meaning does not normally apply to the greeting おめでとう.
How to Pronounce Omedetou
Mora: お・め・で・と・う (5 morae)
Romaji: omedetou / omedetō
Approximate rhythm: o-me-de-tō
The final とう is pronounced with a long ō sound. The final う lengthens the preceding o; it is not usually pronounced as a clearly separate English-style “oo.”
omedetou shows the hiragana spelling, while omedetō uses a macron to show the long vowel.
How Is Omedetou Written in Kanji, Hiragana, and Katakana?
Katakana for emphasis: オメデトウ
Rare kanji spellings: 御目出度う / 御芽出度う
For modern messages, cards, social media posts, and ordinary writing, use おめでとう. The kanji spellings look old-fashioned or decorative and may confuse learners.
Casual Short Forms: Omedeto, Omede, and Omedetō!
In casual speech and online messages, Japanese speakers may shorten or stylize おめでとう.
A casual spelling that reflects relaxed pronunciation.
おめでとー！ / おめでと〜！
A cheerful, stretched spelling in texts and social media.
おめ！
Very short internet or gaming slang for “Congrats!”
For a normal birthday card, お誕生日おめでとう！ sounds warmer and more complete.
How to Reply to Omedetou
The simplest answer is ありがとう or ありがとうございます.
Thank you! — casual
ありがとうございます！
Thank you very much! — polite
覚えていてくれてありがとう！
Thank you for remembering!
お祝いしてくれてありがとう！
Thank you for celebrating with me / congratulating me!
You can add とてもうれしいです (“I’m very happy”) if you want a warmer reply.
ありがとうございます。とてもうれしいです！
Arigatou gozaimasu. Totemo ureshii desu!
Thank you very much. I’m very happy!
Omedetou in Anime and Manga
Anime and manga use the same basic expressions as real life, but the level of politeness reveals the relationship between characters.
Congratulations! — friendly and direct
おめでとうございます。
Congratulations. — polite or ceremonial
誕生日おめでとう！
Happy birthday! — casual
合格おめでとう。
Congratulations on passing.
やったな！おめでとう！
You did it! Congratulations!
Do not judge the emotion from the word alone—listen to the voice and look at the scene.
Common Beginner Mistakes
Mistake 1: Saying Omedetou Tanjoubi
Omedetou tanjoubi
○ 誕生日おめでとう
Tanjoubi omedetou
○ お誕生日おめでとうございます
Otanjoubi omedetou gozaimasu
Mistake 2: Translating Every English “Happy” as Omedetou
おめでとう is for congratulations and celebratory milestones. It does not replace the word “happy” in every sentence.
お誕生日おめでとう！
I am happy.
私はうれしいです。 / 私は幸せです。
—not 私はおめでとうです
Mistake 3: Using the Casual Form with Everyone
Use おめでとうございます when you need to show respect. Plain おめでとう can sound overly familiar when addressed to a supervisor or someone you have just met.
Mistake 4: Reading the Rare Kanji Literally
御目出度う is not a logical combination meaning “honorable eye exit degree.” It is an old-fashioned phonetic spelling. Learn the modern hiragana form おめでとう.
Mistake 5: Saying Congratulations Before the Result Is Confirmed
Normally, use おめでとう after the happy outcome is known. Before an exam or competition, expressions such as 頑張って (“Good luck / Do your best”) are more appropriate.
After the person passes, say 合格おめでとう！
Natural Example Sentences with Omedetou
誕生日おめでとう！
Tanjoubi omedetou!
Happy birthday!
お誕生日おめでとうございます。
Otanjoubi omedetou gozaimasu.
Happy birthday.
二十歳の誕生日、おめでとう！
Hatachi no tanjoubi, omedetou!
Happy twentieth birthday!
ご結婚おめでとうございます。
Go-kekkon omedetou gozaimasu.
Congratulations on your marriage.
大学合格おめでとう！
Daigaku gōkaku omedetou!
Congratulations on getting into university!
卒業おめでとう。よく頑張ったね。
Sotsugyō omedetou. Yoku ganbatta ne.
Congratulations on graduating. You worked hard.
優勝おめでとうございます！
Yūshō omedetou gozaimasu!
Congratulations on winning the championship!
赤ちゃんのご誕生、おめでとうございます。
Akachan no go-tanjō, omedetou gozaimasu.
Congratulations on the birth of your baby.
あけましておめでとうございます。
Akemashite omedetou gozaimasu.
Happy New Year.
昇進おめでとう！
Shōshin omedetou!
Congratulations on your promotion!
遅くなったけど、お誕生日おめでとう。
Osoku natta kedo, otanjoubi omedetou.
This is late, but happy birthday.
おめでとう！本当によかったね。
Omedetou! Hontō ni yokatta ne.
Congratulations! I’m really happy for you.
FAQ About Omedetou
What does omedetou mean?
おめでとう means “Congratulations!” It is used when someone has a happy event, achievement, birthday, graduation, marriage, victory, or other milestone.
What does omedetou gozaimasu mean?
おめでとうございます is the polite and respectful form of “Congratulations.” Use it in formal situations or with people such as teachers, supervisors, customers, and older acquaintances.
Does omedetou mean happy birthday?
By itself, おめでとう means “Congratulations.” In 誕生日おめでとう, it forms the Japanese expression for “Happy birthday.”
Is omedetou tanjoubi correct?
No. The natural word order is 誕生日おめでとう (tanjoubi omedetou) or お誕生日おめでとう (otanjoubi omedetou).
What is the difference between tanjoubi omedetou and otanjoubi omedetou?
Both mean “Happy birthday.” The prefix お makes お誕生日 sound more polite or considerate.
What is the difference between omedetou and omedetou gozaimasu?
おめでとう is casual and friendly. おめでとうございます is polite and respectful.
How do you reply to omedetou?
Say ありがとう casually or ありがとうございます politely.
How do you write omedetou in Japanese?
The normal spelling is the hiragana おめでとう. Katakana オメデトウ is possible for emphasis, while kanji spellings such as 御目出度う are rare and old-fashioned.
Why is omedetou sometimes written omedetō?
Both spellings represent the same word. Omedetou reflects the hiragana spelling, while the macron in omedetō marks the long final vowel.
Can I use omedetou for New Year?
Yes, as part of the fixed greeting あけましておめでとうございます, meaning “Happy New Year.”
Summary: Omedetou and Omedetou Gozaimasu
Means “Congratulations!” and is used casually with friends, family, and close acquaintances.
● おめでとうございます
The polite and respectful form.
● 誕生日おめでとう
The casual way to say “Happy birthday.”
● お誕生日おめでとうございます
The polite way to say “Happy birthday.”
● Word order
Use tanjoubi omedetou, not omedetou tanjoubi.
● Core image
A happy event has happened, and the speaker recognizes it as something worth celebrating.
● Origin
おめでとう developed from おめでたい, which is historically connected to めづ／愛づ, “to admire or cherish.”
● Normal writing
Use the hiragana おめでとう.
おめでとう！ ⇒ Congratulations!
お誕生日おめでとう！ ⇒ Happy birthday!
Then add ございます whenever you need to sound polite.
Related Article
For all the common ways to celebrate and congratulate someone in Japanese, see How to Congratulate in Japanese: “Congratulations” in Japanese.
References
- Kotobank: おめでとう — meaning, polite form, and development from おめでたい.
- Kotobank: めでたい — etymology and historical meanings.
- The Japan Foundation: ひきだすにほんご — authentic use of お誕生日おめでとう.
- The Japan Foundation: Irodori, Lesson 13 — birthday and marriage congratulations in practical Japanese.