WHAT are the common Japanese words for New Years? Posted by keiko on Jan 2, 2014 in Culture, Grammar
Have you made your New Year’s resolution yet? I hope language learning is one of them! I am here to assist you with learning Japanese. In this article, let me introduce you to some of the vocabularies or expressions that are related to “New Years.” These words will come in handy when talking about your New Year’s experience.
| English | Japanese Pronounciation | Japanese |
| New Year’s | Oshogatsu | お正月 |
| January 1st | gantan | 元旦 |
| New Year’s Resolution | shinnen no hofu | 新年の抱負 |
| Make New Year’s Resolution | shinnen no hofu wo tateru | 新年の抱負を立てる |
| Have you made New Year’s resolution? | shinnen no hofu wo tatemashitaka? | 新年の抱負を立てましたか？ |
| What is your New Year’s resolution? | anata no shinnen no hofu wa nandesuka? | あなたの新年の抱負は何ですか？ |
| How did you spend your New Year’s Day? | gantan wa naniwo shite sugoshi mashitaka? | 元旦は何をして過ごしましたか？ |
| New Year’s Eve | oomisoka | 大晦日 |
| countdown | kaunto down | カウントダウン |
| cheers | kanpai | 乾杯 |
| New Year’s Celebration | shinnen no oiwai | 新年のお祝い |
| New Year’s gathering | shinnen no atsumari | 新年の集まり |
| fireworks | hanabi | 花火 |
| watch fireworks | hanabi wo miru | 花火を見る |
| Did you go watch fireworks? | hanabi wa mimashitaka? | 花火を見に行きましたか？ |
| dancing | dansu | ダンス |
| go dancing | dansu ni iku | ダンスに行く |
| Happy | shiawasena | 幸せな |
| Holiday | kyuka | 休暇 |
| family | kazoku | 家族 |
| family gathering | kazoku no atsumari | 家族の集まり |
| spend time with family | kazokuto sugosu | 家族と過ごす |
| Invitation | shoutai | 招待 |
| Invitation to New Year’s party | shinnen kai no shoutai | 新年会の招待 |
| drinking (alcoholic) | nomu | 飲む |
| End of the Year party | bonenkai | 忘年会 |
| New Year’s party | shinnen kai | 新年会 |
| music | ongaku | 音楽 |
| New Year’s music | oshogatsu no ongaku | お正月の音楽 |
Try these vocabularies or expressions when having conversation about New Years.
Lastly, enjoy this Japanese Koto (琴) song called “Haru no Umi (春の海) which is often played during the New Years. You might have heard one of these at Japanese restaurants.
Hope you enjoyed learning these Japanese words. Feel free to leave your comments if there is any other words or expressions that you would like to know in Japanese.
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About the Author: keiko
Born and raised in Japan. She currently lives in U.S. with her husband and two kids.