あけましておめでとうございます

Common word

Meanings

expression

polite (teineigo)usually written using kana alone

Polite New Year's greeting used from January 1st onward. The phrase literally means 'congratulations on the opening (of the new year)'. It is the standard formal greeting for the new year period.

明あけましておめでとうございます。今年ことしもよろしくお願ねがいします。
Happy New Year. I look forward to your continued friendship this year.
新しん年ねんのご挨あい拶さつ：明あけましておめでとうございます。
New Year's greeting: Happy New Year.

Written forms

明あけましておめでとうございます
Standard kanji-kana mixed spelling; the most common written form.
明あけましておめでとう御ご座ざいます
rarely-used kanji form
Rare kanji form using 御座います for ございます; mostly seen in formal or traditional contexts.
明あけまして御お目め出で度とう御ご座ざいます
rarely-used kanji form
Very rare full-kanji form; archaic and decorative.

Kanji

明bright, light
御honorable, manipulate, govern
座squat, seat, cushion
目eye, class, look
出exit, leave, go out
度degrees, occurrence, time

Similar words

あけおめ
Casual, shortened slang form of 明けましておめでとう, used among friends. Not appropriate in formal situations.
ことよろ
Casual, shortened slang form of 今年もよろしくお願いします, often paired with あけおめ.
謹きん賀が新しん年ねん
Formal written New Year's greeting, typically used on postcards or in formal letters. More stiff and traditional than 明けましておめでとうございます.

Etymology

From 明ける (akeru, 'to dawn, to begin') in its continuative form 明けまして (akemashite) + おめでとう (omedetou, 'congratulations') + ございます (gozaimasu, polite copula). The phrase literally means 'congratulations on the beginning (of the new year)'.