辰 ( = tatsu) ← 龍 ( = tatsu/ryuu) dragon.*十二支 ( = juunishi) The twelve zodiac signs in Chinese Astrology. ( Note : The year 2021 is 丑年= うしどし= ushi doshi = a year of ox) 🐮 These expressions are just used in print and rarely in conversation.Īnother interesting characteristic of these postcards is the animals.Įvery year Japanese draw or print the picture of the present year’s 干支 ( = eto) Chinese Zodiac symbol animal for the year. 謹賀新年 (= kinga shinen) or 賀正 ( = gashou), Happy New Year or Celebration of a new year. (Not a bad haul, right?)Īnd personal messages, many people write or use postcards printed the following words: According to a survey, elementary school students get $200~$300 per year on average. Some children get a lot of money during the New Year’s holidays. It is customary to give young children some money in a little envelope called ポチ袋 ( = pochi bukuro) on New Year’s Day. There are also special stamps with lottery numbers, お年玉付き郵便切手 ( = otoshidama tsuki yuubin kitte.) That is why they are called お年玉年賀状(葉書) ( = otoshidam nenagjou (hagaki) ) New Year’s post card with New Year’s gift ( = lottery numbers) Winners get 懸賞 ( = kenshou) prizes such as 郵便切手 ( = kitte) postal stamps, カメラ、 cameras, テレビ ( = terebi) televisions, ハワイ旅行 ( = hawai ryokou) trips to Hawaii, etc. 当選番号 ( = tousen bangou ) the winning lottery numbers are announced on the paper or internet in the middle of January. You can buy the blank 年賀状 ( = nengajou) at 郵便局 ( = yuubinkyoku) a post office.Įach card has lottery numbers and if you win, you get a prize. The post office will hold them start to deliver them on Jan.1st. There are particular mail boxes or mail slots for 年賀状 ( = nengajou) and people mail them before December 31st. 年賀状 ( = nengajou) should be delivered after a new year has started not in December. It is similar to how Christmas cards are exchanged in western countries. Japanese people exchange 年賀状 ( = nengajou), New Year’s greeting ca rd s, for New Year’s day. →People have been used this for about 10 years now so you may not hear this eventually. Note : As I have mentioned before, young people tend to abbreviate the words or phrases for fun. When you have a favor to ask someone or expect someone to take care of you or do something for you, or you want them to be nice to you, you can use this phrase asking favors. Note: 致します（ = itashimasu.) is more formal. * 今年 ( = kotoshi) or 本年 ( = honnen) this year = Thank you for all your support for this year in advance. *おめでとう（ = omedetou) Congratulations + ございます。 polite ending 年が明ける ( = toshi ga akeru) to start a new year OK, let’s start from these phrases today! You don’t say 明けましておめでとう ( = akemashite omdetou) “ Happy New Year ” until a new year starts. (Oh, in case you are reading this lesson before a new year starts, go to よいお年を ( = yoi otoshiwo) lesson. A new year has just started! I hope you can learn something new in this lesson!

Shimo in japanese