What to write on a nengajō
年賀状の書き方
A nengajō (年賀状) is the postcard Japanese people send to arrive on New Year's Day. Post it in mid-December so it arrives in the first week of January. Here's what to write on it.
The five lines
- A New Year greeting, written a little larger than the rest (see below).
- Thanks for last year: 昨年は大変お世話になりました, "thank you for all your help last year".
- A wish to stay in touch: 本年もよろしくお願いいたします, "I look forward to another year together".
- Good wishes: 皆様のご健康をお祈りいたします, "wishing you all good health".
- The date: 令和九年 元旦, "New Year's Day 2027".
Then add one handwritten line of your own, such as a memory or some news. That's the line people remember.
Pick the right greeting
- A teacher, boss or anyone senior: 謹賀新年 (kinga shinnen).
- Host family, neighbours, older friends: あけましておめでとうございます.
- Close friends: あけましておめでとう.
Avoid short greetings such as 賀正 for anyone senior to you, because they read as abrupt.
Two examples
To your host family
あけましておめでとうございます
昨年は大変お世話になりました
お母さんのお雑煮の味が今でも忘れられません
本年もどうぞよろしくお願いいたします
令和九年 元旦
Happy New Year. Thank you so much for everything last year. I still can't forget the taste of your ozōni, Mum. I look forward to staying in touch this year.
To your Japanese teacher
謹賀新年
旧年中は大変お世話になりました
おかげさまでN3に合格できました
本年もご指導のほどよろしくお願い申し上げます
令和九年 元旦
Happy New Year. Thank you for all your help last year. Thanks to you, I passed the JLPT N3. I would be grateful for your continued teaching this year.
Three mistakes to avoid
- 去年 for "last year". 去 means "leave", which is unlucky at New Year. Write 昨年 instead.
- 一月一日元旦. 元旦 already means 1 January. Just write 元旦.
- よいお年を. It means "have a good year ahead" and is said in December, before the New Year, so it doesn't belong on the card.
Check your message before you copy it out
Your personal line is the part no template can write for you, and the easiest part to get wrong. Write it in Kotobaerabi, say who the card is for, and it checks your Japanese against how polite that person needs, explaining each change.