Let's learn words related to New Year! / Japanese Learning Support LLC
Let's study words related to New Year's!
Today we will introduce some words and phrases to use during the New Year holidays.
I hope you will read this blog and use it to wish your colleagues and friends a Happy New Year and talk about the New Year holidays.
Today's Menu
1. Let's say happy new year!
2. Let's talk about what we're going to do during the New Year holidays!
1. Let's say happy new year!
First, let's learn how Japanese people greet each other in the New Year!
・Happy New Year! (Happy New Year)
This is a greeting often used at the New Year in January, meaning "Happy New Year!"
You can use this phrase with people of higher or lower rank.
If you are sending messages to close friends or family, simply saying "Happy New Year!" is fine.
・Thank you for your continued support this year.
It is often used together with "Happy New Year" as a greeting to express gratitude for the help you may need in the future.
・Have a happy new year.
This phrase is used before the New Year (usually in December).
In Japan, it feels a little strange to say "Happy New Year!" when it's not even January yet.
This is because the phrase "Akemashite" carries the meaning of "A new year has started," so if you say it in December, it will seem like the new year has not yet begun.
So, if it hasn't yet been the new year, make sure to say, "Have a happy new year!"
It's also OK to say the short version, "Happy New Year!"
Let's look at some examples.
With friends at the end of the year...
A: This year is almost over.
B: That's right. Happy New Year!
A: Happy New Year! See you next year!
B: Yes!
At the end of the year, with my boss...
A: Well, then we'll meet next year.
B: That's right. This year went by so quickly...Happy New Year!
A: Happy New Year to you too, B!
At the end of the year, send an email to your boss or senior colleagues...
A: Thank you very much for your support this year.
We will continue to do our best next year, so please continue to support us.
We wish you a happy new year.
New Year with friends...
A: Happy New Year!
B: Happy New Year! I hope you have a great year!
A: Yes! Thank you very much!
B: Did you go anywhere during winter break?
A: No, I just stayed at home and relaxed.
With my boss in the new year...
A: Happy New Year.
B: Happy New Year! Did you have a relaxing New Year's holiday?
A: Yes, I was able to spend some quality time with my family for the first time in a while.
B: I see, that's good. I look forward to working with you again this year.
A: Thank you for your continued support this year.
Business emails in the new year...
A: Happy New Year.
Thank you very much for your support last year.
Thank you for your continued support this year.
Now you can all say Happy New Year!
Please try it out with a variety of people.
*People who have lost a relative or family member within the past year are in a period of mourning, and it is customary not to say "Happy New Year" on the following New Year's Day.
Therefore, you should avoid saying "Happy New Year" to people who have lost someone close to them.
2. Let's talk about what we're going to do during the New Year holidays!
Now, let's learn some words that are commonly used during the New Year holidays!
・Year-end party
It is a party or drinking party held at the end of the year.
I mainly get together with coworkers and friends to reflect on the past year and discuss my goals for the coming year.
Did you all attend the year-end party?
・General cleaning
Cleaning your house at the end of the year is called 'O-sei'.
Let's clean up our rooms, offices, etc. to show our gratitude for all the things they have done for us this year.
And start the new year feeling refreshed!
・New Year's Eve
December 31st is called "New Year's Eve."
Generally, on New Year's Eve, people tend to go back to their parents' homes or to their relatives' houses and spend the day quietly.
Well, there's a lot to do on New Year's Eve! Let's see what we'll do!
・Red and White Song Battle
It is a music program on NHK that is broadcast every year on New Year's Eve.
Male and female singers are divided into white and red (crimson) groups and sing songs.
Afterwards, everyone will decide which group's song was better.
That's why it's called a "singing contest" (contest = battle)!
In recent years, there has been much discussion online about the choice of singers and songs they perform, but when it comes to programs to watch on New Year's Eve, most people still think of "Kohaku Uta Gassen."
・New Year's Eve soba (Toshikoshi soba)
What we eat on New Year's Eve is "soba"!
Because soba noodles are long, they are said to represent the wish for a long life.
Also, because buckwheat is thin and easy to break, it is also said to mean "cutting away bad things," and it is believed that the ingredients in buckwheat seeds have the effect of expelling toxins from the body.
Buckwheat is also rich in vitamins, making it a good food for your body.
When you hear the term "long food," spaghetti or udon noodles might be good options, but when you look at the good points of soba, it seems like it's best to eat soba on New Year's Eve after all.
・New Year's Eve Bells
From the evening of New Year's Eve until midnight on January 1st, temple bells will ring 108 times.
It is said that this is to remove the 108 earthly desires (unnecessary feelings such as wanting this! wanting that!)
The purpose is to be freed from these worldly desires and to spend the new year without worries or troubles.
Everyone, please listen carefully on New Year's Eve.
You might hear the bells ring.
・New Year's Day (gantan)・New Year's Day (ganjitsu)
The morning of January 1st is called "Gantan" and January 1st itself is called "Ganjitsu."
There are a lot of variety shows on TV on New Year's Day.
Why not start the year off with some laughter?
・New Year's gift
Money given by older people to younger people during the New Year is called "otoshidama."
Basically, only children are allowed to receive it.
The age at which people receive New Year's gifts varies depending on the family and relatives, but many families allow it until high school or college age.
Recently, it seems that the number of people who have entered the workforce giving New Year's gifts to their parents as a sign of gratitude is gradually increasing.
Also, since the word otoshidama is only used during the New Year, when giving money from older people to younger people outside of the New Year, it would be better to use the word okozukai (pocket money).
・First visit to a shrine
Visiting a shrine or temple during the New Year is called hatsumode.
Some people have been lining up since New Year's Eve.
During the first visit to a shrine, people give thanks for the previous year and pray for a good year ahead.
Are you all going to visit a shrine for the first time in the new year?
・New Year's cards
It is a card sent in the new year to express gratitude for the continued support of the recipient.
It is common to send them by mail, so if you would like to send a New Year's card, prepare it around mid-December and drop it in the post.
Ideally, it will arrive in the recipient's mailbox on New Year's Day, so get it prepared early!
One thing to note is that there are special cards for New Year's cards.
Postcards that are sold in the normal way and have nothing to do with New Year's, or postcards purchased at convenience stores, do not have the "New Year" mark.
If the envelope does not have the "New Year's Greetings" mark, it will be delivered as regular mail, so be careful!
However, you can also get stamps for New Year's cards at the post office, so if you're not sure what to do, please ask at your nearest post office.
If the envelope has the "New Year" mark on it, don't worry, even if you put it in the mailbox in mid-December, it won't reach the recipient until January 1st.
How was it?
Today, we introduced New Year's greetings and words related to the New Year.
I encourage you all to try using the words you learned today over the New Year holidays.
That's all for today!
See you in the next blog!
