JAPAN
Takahiro Takiguchi and Shoji Kudaka illustration

(Stripes Japan)

Jan. 13 is “Seijin no Hi (coming of age day)” in Japan. Let’s try these phrases and congratulate our new adults!

“Go-seijin Omedetou gozaimasu” = Congratulations for coming of age.

(“go” = a prefix to express something in a polite way, “seijin” = adult/coming of age, “omedetou gozaimasu” = congratulations)

“Otona no Nakama-iri desune” = Now you are an adult member of society.

(“otona” = adult/grown-up, Nakama-iri = join)

“Tomoni Shakaijin Toshite Ganbari-masho” = Let’s work hard together as adult members of society.

(“tomoni” = together, “shakaijin” = adult member of society, “toshite” = as, “ganbari-masho” = let’s work hard)

“Atarashii Koto ni Dondon Charenji shite itte Kudasai” = Please keep trying something new.

(“atarashii” = new, “koto” = thing/stuff, “ni” = a particle to indicate an object, “dondon” = a phrase to indicate a momentum, “charenji” = challenge, “shite/suru” = do, “itte” = go, “kudasai” = please)

“Minna Ouen Shite-imasu” = Everybody is rooting for you.

(“minna” = everybody, “ouen” = rooting, “shite-imasu” = be doing)

“Shakaijin toshite seicho shite itte Kudasai” = Keep being a better adult member of society.

(“shakaijin” = adult member of society, “toshite” = as, “seicho shite/suru” = grow up/step up, “itte” = go, “kudasai” = please)

“Ookiku Habataite Kudasai” = Fly high and be successful.

(“ookiku” = widely, “habataku” = flutter one’s wings, “kudasai” = please)

“Korekarano jinsei ni Takusan no Deai to Shiawase ga Aruyouni Inotte Imasu” = I wish you meet many wonderful people and find a lot of happiness.

(“korekarano” = in the future, “jinsei” = life, “ni” = in/at, “takusan/takusan-no” = many/a lot of, “deai” = encounter/meeting, “shiawase” = happiness, “ga” = a particle to indicate a subject, “auyouni” = so that there is~, “innotte imasu” = be praying/wishing)

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