Japanese word

祝う

Pronunciation

Romajiiwau

Meaning

  • verbcelebrate

Example

家族でお正月を祝います。ka zoku de o shō gatsu o iwa i ma su

My family celebrates the New Year.

Illustration for 祝う (celebrate)

More examples

今日は弟の誕生日を祝います。kyō wa otōto no tan jō hi o iwa i ma su

Today we celebrate my little brother's birthday.

町の人たちは新しい店の開店を祝いました。machi no hito ta chi wa atara shi i mise no kai ten o iwa i ma shi ta

The people in town celebrated the opening of the new store.

Core concept

It marks a happy event or occasion by expressing joy through words, actions, or a shared observance.

Common phrases

  • 誕生日を祝うtan jō hi o iwa u

    celebrate a birthday

  • 結婚を祝うkek kon o iwa u

    celebrate a marriage

  • 成功を祝うsei kō o iwa u

    celebrate a success

  • 卒業を祝うsotsu gyō o iwa u

    celebrate graduation

  • 勝利を祝うshō ri o iwa u

    celebrate a victory

Similar words

祝福するshukufukusuru: To offer good wishes for someone's happiness or success, often on a special occasion.
慶祝するkeishukusuru: To mark an important event through a formal celebration.

Definition in Japanese

めでたい出来事や人の喜び事を喜び、その気持ちを言葉や行いで表す。me de ta i de ki goto ya hito no yoroko bi koto o yoroko bi so no ki mo chi o koto ba ya okona i de arawa su

Word origin

The native Japanese verb 祝う (iwau, "to celebrate") is related to 祝い (iwai, "celebration"), the noun for the act or occasion of celebrating.

Usage tips

  • The verb 祝う (iwau, "to celebrate") often appears with おめでとう (omedetō, "congratulations"), but it names the act of celebrating rather than the congratulatory phrase.

Other meanings

  • congratulateverb
  • observeverb

Related words

Word lists with this word