誕生

• Reading: たんじょう
• Romaji: tanjou
• Kanji breakdown: 誕 (tan) — birth, nativity; 生 (jou/sei) — life, birth
• Pronunciation: /taɴ.dʑoː/

Meaning

Birth; creation. The coming into existence of a person, idea, or thing.

A noun that functions as a suru verb (誕生する). Used for the birth of people (赤ちゃんが誕生した), creation of inventions or ideas (新しい技術が誕生した), and celebrations (誕生日, birthday; 誕生パーティー, birthday party). More formal than 生まれる (to be born). Extremely common in the compound 誕生日.

Examples

1. 家族に新しい命が誕生した。 A new life was born into our family.
2. 友達の誕生日パーティーに招待された。 I was invited to a friend's birthday party.
3. インターネットの誕生が世界を変えた。 The birth of the internet changed the world.

Usage Guide

Context: celebrations, history, daily life

Tone: positive

Origin & History

Compound of 誕 (tan, birth/nativity) and 生 (jou/sei, life/birth). The kanji 誕 combines 言 (words) and 延 (extend) — originally 'to speak broadly' or 'wild talk,' later associated with birth through Buddhist texts.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal