誕生日

• Reading: たんじょうび
• Romaji: tanjoubi
• Kanji breakdown: 誕 (tan) — be born; 生 (jou/sei) — life, birth; 日 (bi/nichi) — day
• Pronunciation: /tan.dʑoː.bi/

Meaning

Birthday. The anniversary of the day someone was born.

A common noun used in everyday conversation. The standard birthday greeting is お誕生日おめでとうございます (happy birthday), with the お prefix adding politeness. Birthday celebrations in Japan often include cake and gifts, similar to Western customs, though traditionally birthdays were not individually celebrated until the modern era.

Examples

1. 明日は母の誕生日です。 Tomorrow is my mother's birthday.
2. 誕生日に友達からプレゼントをもらいました。 I received a present from a friend on my birthday.
3. お誕生日おめでとうございます。 Happy birthday!

Usage Guide

Context: celebrations, personal information, daily life

Tone: cheerful

Origin & History

A compound of 誕生 (tanjou, 'birth') and 日 (bi, 'day'). 誕 means 'to be born' and 生 means 'life,' together forming 'birth day.'

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal