How to say happy birthday in Japanese?

"happy birthday" is an expression that is regularly asked to translate in Japanese. The appropriate term for saying "happy birthday" in Japanese is "o tanjōbi omedetō gozaimasu" お誕生日 おめでとうございます.

• "o" お : is the polite particle
• "Tanjōbi" 誕生日: birthday
• "omedetō" おめでとう : congratulations
• "gozaimasu" ございます: means something like "very well"

"o tanjōbi omedetō gozaimasu" お誕生日 おめでとうございます is the full expression and polished, that you need to use with anyone who has a high social status, including the elderly, teachers, supervisors and foreigners. You can also use this expression with the people with whom you are familiar to emphasize greater sincerity.

you can say "tanjōbi omedetō" 誕生日 おめでとう, if it is a friend you're close.

• Ask someone's birthday date using "tanjōbi wa itsudesu ka?" 誕生日はいつですか？