Merry Christmas in Japanese
メリークリスマス
Merii Kurisumasu
Say it like this: meh-REE koo-ree-soo-MAH-soo
Big letters show the part to say louder.
Quick answer
- In Japanese, Merry Christmas is メリークリスマス (Merii Kurisumasu), said like meh-REE koo-ree-soo-MAH-soo.
- Happy New Year is 明けましておめでとうございます (Akemashite omedetō gozaimasu).
- People say it in Japan.
What Merii Kurisumasu means
'Merii' (merry) plus 'Kurisumasu' (Christmas), both borrowed from English and written in katakana.
Japanese is written with three scripts together: kanji (Chinese characters), hiragana and katakana. Foreign words such as Christmas are written in katakana.
Other ways to say it in Japanese
メリクリ
Merikuri
Say it like this: meh-ree-KOO-ree
A short, casual version used in text messages and among friends.
Happy New Year
明けましておめでとうございます
Akemashite omedetō gozaimasu
Say it like this: ah-keh-MAH-shee-teh oh-meh-deh-TOH goh-zah-ee-mahss
Congratulations on the opening of the new year; said once the new year has begun
Where people speak Japanese
Japan
Japanese (日本語) belongs to the Japonic language family.
Hear it from Rally on Christmas Eve
On Christmas Eve, Rally the corgi rides the Christmas Train around the world. He reaches Tokyo at about 12:17 AM local time, then visits Osaka, Sapporo, and kids learn to say メリークリスマス as he lands.
Watch Rally arrive in Tokyo →Christmas traditions where people speak Japanese
- Christmas cake: The traditional Japanese Christmas cake is a light sponge cake covered in whipped cream and topped with strawberries. It is not a rich fruit cake like in Britain, and families often eat it on Christmas Eve.[4][3]
- Fried chicken for Christmas: Eating fried chicken at Christmas became a national habit after a 1974 ad campaign called 'Kentucky for Christmas'. Families often order their chicken meals months ahead because Christmas is the busiest time of year.[4][3]
- Christmas Eve lights and dates: Christmas Eve is a time for couples to spend together, enjoying walks under the Christmas lights and a nice dinner. Cities are lit up and Christmas trees decorate malls and homes.[3][4]
🎄 Quick game: Merry Christmas in Japanese
Three quick questions for kids. Tap an answer to play.
Celebrate with kids
Say Merry Christmas in more languages
- Georgianშობას გილოცავთ
- Gujaratiનાતાલની શુભકામનાઓ
- Burmeseပျော်ရွှင်ဖွယ်ရာ ခရစ္စမတ်ပွဲတော် ဖြစ်ပါစေ
- Korean메리 크리스마스
- MongolianЗул сарын мэнд хүргэе
- Tamilகிறிஸ்துமஸ் வாழ்த்துக்கள்
- Bengaliশুভ বড়দিন
- Teluguక్రిస్మస్ శుభాకాంక్షలు
Questions parents ask
How do you say Merry Christmas in Japanese?
The most common way is メリークリスマス, said "Merii Kurisumasu" (meh-REE koo-ree-soo-MAH-soo). It comes from the English words and is written in katakana. Friends also use the short text-message version メリクリ (Merikuri). It is easy for English speakers to learn because the words sound familiar.[1]
How do you pronounce Merii Kurisumasu?
Say "meh-REE koo-ree-soo-MAH-soo". Japanese syllables are even, with about the same weight on each beat. The u in ku and su is very light, almost whispered. The long ii in Merii is held a little longer than a short i.[1]
What does メリークリスマス mean?
It is borrowed from English: メリー (merii) means merry and クリスマス (kurisumasu) means Christmas. There is no deeper Japanese meaning, because Japanese borrowed the whole phrase. The long line in メリー shows the long vowel sound, which katakana writing uses for English-style words.[1]
How do you write Merry Christmas in Japanese?
Write it in katakana as メリークリスマス. Katakana is the script used for foreign words. The long dash after リ is a vowel-lengthening mark, not a hyphen. In text messages, many people shorten it to メリクリ. In casual notes you may also see it in Roman letters: Merry Christmas.[1]
How do you say Happy New Year in Japanese?
Once the new year begins, say "明けましておめでとうございます" (Akemashite omedetō gozaimasu). Before New Year's Day, people usually say "良いお年を" (Yoi otoshi o), which means have a good new year. New Year is the biggest family holiday in Japan, so this greeting is heard far more than Merry Christmas.[2][3]
Is there a formal way to say Merry Christmas in Japanese?
メリークリスマス works for most situations. Japanese has no special formal Christmas greeting that everyone uses, so people add polite endings when writing to teachers or customers. Among friends and children, the short メリクリ is easy and playful. Adding a polite ending is a way to show respect.[1]
When do people say Merry Christmas in Japan?
People say it mostly on Christmas Eve, December 24, and on Christmas Day. Stores, restaurants and the streets show Christmas lights from early December. Because Christmas is not a national holiday in Japan, many people still go to school or work on December 25.[3][4]
Is Christmas Eve or Christmas Day the main celebration in Japan?
Christmas Eve is often celebrated more than Christmas Day. It is seen as a special evening for couples, friends and families to have dinner and enjoy the lights. December 25 is not a national holiday, although many schools are closed because the winter break starts.[4][3]
What is a popular Christmas tradition in Japan?
Many families eat a Christmas cake made of soft sponge cake, whipped cream and strawberries. Eating fried chicken is also very popular, thanks to an advertising campaign from the 1970s. Christmas parties and light displays happen in cities across Japan.[3][4]
A bedtime story after seeing SantaRally Takes the Train is a five-minute rhyming picture book about a corgi’s first train ride, hand-painted in real watercolor by Leslie Dunn. $16.99 on Amazon, ages 0 to 8.
Buy on AmazonSources
We check every greeting against dictionaries, language institutes and cultural sources.
- merry Christmas (translations), Wiktionary
- happy New Year (translations), Wiktionary
- Observance of Christmas by country, Wikipedia
- Christmas in Japan, WhyChristmas.com
