Greeting with appropriate words is important for socializing. Here are some useful expressions for special occasions.

Celebration

· Congratulations.
Omedetou gozaimasu.
おめでとうございます。
Omedetou. (casual)
おめでとう。

The form "gozaimasu （ございます）" is more polite. It is added when you are talking with somebody who is not a family members or a close friend. To reply, "Arigatou gozaimasu （ありがとうございます）" or "Arigatou （ありがとう）" is used.

· Happy Birthday.
O-tanjoubi omedetou gozaimasu. (formal)
お誕生日おめでとうございます。
Tanjoubi omedetou. (casual)
誕生日おめでとう。

· Congratulations on your wedding.
Go-kekkon omedetou gozaimasu. (formal)
ご結婚おめでとうございます。
Kekkon omedetou. (casual)
結婚おめでとう。

The honorific "o （お）" or "go （ご）" can be attached to the front of some nouns as a formal way of saying "your". It is very polite.

To somebody who is sick

· How are you feeling?
Guai wa ikaga desu ka.
具合はいかがですか。

· How is your cold?
Kaze wa dou desu ka.
風邪はどうですか。

· Thanks to your help, I have gotten better.
Okagesama de yoku narimashita.
おかげさまでよくなりました。

"Okagesama de （おかげさまで）" can be used whenever you announce good news in answer to someone's concerned inquiry.

· Please take care of yourself.
Odaiji ni.
お大事に。

To reply "Odaiji ni （お大事に）", "Arigatou gozaimasu （ありがとうございます）" is used.

Seeing someone after a long absence

There is a Japanese song titled "Ohisashiburi ne（お久しぶりね）". "Ne（ね）" is a sentence particle. Ne is used to seek confirmation and is similar to English expressions such as "right?" or "don't you agree?".

To reply to "Gobusata shite imasu," "Kochira koso (Same here)" is used. In casual conversations among friends, simply repeat "Hisashiburi!" or "Hisashiburi ne".

New Year's Celebration

The New Year is the most important time of the year in Japan. (just like Christmas in the west).

At the end of the year:

During New Year's days (Jan.1st to 3rd), up to the middle of January:

"Akemasu" literally means "to open". "Kotoshi mo yoroshiku onegaishimasu (I look forward to our continued relationship over this year)" is often added after "Akemashite omedetou gozaimasu". To reply, "Kochira koso" is used.