This site uses cookies. Some of these cookies are essential to the operation of the site, while others help to improve your experience by providing insights into how the site is being used. For more information, please see the ProZ.com privacy policy.
Cookie settings
  1. KudoZ™ Top
  2. Japanese to English

あけましておめでとうございます

English translation: (a) happy new year

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Japanese term or phrase:あけましておめでとうございます
English translation:(a) happy new year
Entered by: jsl (X)

00:41 Jan 6, 2003
Japanese to English translations [Non-PRO]
/ New Year Greetings
Japanese term or phrase: あけましておめでとうございます
I wonder if the following understanding is correct?
1. Happy New Year!
2. A Happy New Year to You!
3. I wish you a Happy New Year!
My question is about the presence or absence
of the indefinite article 'a'.
Thank you.
Itasan
Local time: 02:05
Necessary in sentences, not always necessary as a greeting message
Explanation:
Basically, if you want to use it as a greeting message, i.e., for a postcard of a greeting card, you may say "A Happy New Year" or "Happy New Year". This is the same phenomenon as articles, "a", "an", and "the", are often omitted when they are used as book titles, not in sentences. In fact, if you look at cards sold in U.S. stores, some have "A Happy New Year" and others have "Happy New Year".

So, 2 can be said with an article, "a". In the Google research, we can find 15,200 examples of "happy new year to you", and, 3,630 examples out of 15,200 are "a happy new year to you".

As for 3, it has to have an "a", since it is used in a sentence. In Google, as well, we can find 1,650 examples of "I wish you a happy new year", but there are only 123 examples of "I wish you happy new year". However, "I wish you happy new year" could be possible, if you have a comma after "you", if you quote "happy new year", or if you distinguish them by using upper-case letters like "Happy New Year", as you see in the examples.
Selected response from:

jsl (X)
Local time: 02:05
Grading comment
Graded automatically based on peer agreement. KudoZ.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +3Necessary in sentences, not always necessary as a greeting message
jsl (X)
5 +1noun or not?
William Clough (X)


  

Answers


2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +3
Necessary in sentences, not always necessary as a greeting message


Explanation:
Basically, if you want to use it as a greeting message, i.e., for a postcard of a greeting card, you may say "A Happy New Year" or "Happy New Year". This is the same phenomenon as articles, "a", "an", and "the", are often omitted when they are used as book titles, not in sentences. In fact, if you look at cards sold in U.S. stores, some have "A Happy New Year" and others have "Happy New Year".

So, 2 can be said with an article, "a". In the Google research, we can find 15,200 examples of "happy new year to you", and, 3,630 examples out of 15,200 are "a happy new year to you".

As for 3, it has to have an "a", since it is used in a sentence. In Google, as well, we can find 1,650 examples of "I wish you a happy new year", but there are only 123 examples of "I wish you happy new year". However, "I wish you happy new year" could be possible, if you have a comma after "you", if you quote "happy new year", or if you distinguish them by using upper-case letters like "Happy New Year", as you see in the examples.



    Reference: http://www.google.co.jp/search?q=%22I+wish+you+happy+new+yea...
    Reference: http://www.google.co.jp/search?q=%22I+wish+you+a+happy+new+y...
jsl (X)
Local time: 02:05
PRO pts in pair: 1098
Grading comment
Graded automatically based on peer agreement. KudoZ.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Shinya Ono: Admirable work to start off the New Year, daisuke-san!
1 hr
  -> Thanks, and "a" happy new year to you all.
agree  Peter Coles: This is also correct for British English.
6 hrs
  -> Thanks for your comment.
agree  yamamoto
6 days
  -> thanks
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

10 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +1
noun or not?


Explanation:
I agree with Daisuke's assessment. I would add, however, that it depends largely on how you plan to use it in a sentence. "Happy New Year" is fine by itself as an expression of the sentiment. The article "a" essentially turns the entire phrase into a noun for the purposes of sentence structure (e.g., "Did you have a happy New Year?")

Generally speaking, unless the context is very formal, it is normal to use "Happy New Year" by itself in the same way as "Happy birthday" or any other holiday. When referred to as the subject or object in a sentence, the "a" becomes necessary.

Hope this helps!

William Clough (X)
United States
Local time: 13:05
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  mora339: Sounds natural
2 hrs
  -> Thanks, Mora!
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)



Login or register (free and only takes a few minutes) to participate in this question.

You will also have access to many other tools and opportunities designed for those who have language-related jobs (or are passionate about them). Participation is free and the site has a strict confidentiality policy.

Return to KudoZ list

KudoZ™ translation help

The KudoZ network provides a framework for translators and others to assist each other with translations or explanations of terms and short phrases.

See also:
ProZ.com term search
Search millions of term translations
Close search
Term search
  • All of ProZ.com
  • Term search
  • Jobs
  • Forums
  • Multiple search