祝う
いわう
iwau
= to celebrate; to congratulate; to mark an occasion
祝う (iwau) means to celebrate or to offer congratulations — the verb at the heart of Japan’s rich ceremonial culture. Whether it’s a birthday, a wedding, a birth, a new year, or a promotion, iwau is the word for marking joyful occasions. Its noun form 祝い (iwai — celebration, congratulatory gift) is equally essential, appearing on the envelopes of monetary gifts given at weddings and ceremonies throughout life.
Iwau (祝う) is a godan verb (u-verb) meaning to celebrate or to congratulate. Conjugations: 祝います (iwaimasu — polite present), 祝った (iwatta — plain past), 祝って (iwatte — te-form). Usage: 誕生日を祝う (tanjoubi wo iwau — to celebrate a birthday), 結婚を祝う (kekkon wo iwau — to celebrate a marriage), お祝いを言う (o-iwai wo iu — to offer congratulations). Noun form: 祝い (iwai) or お祝い (o-iwai — celebration, congratulatory gift). Set phrases: おめでとうございます (o-medetou gozaimasu — congratulations) is the verbal formula; 祝い金 (iwai-kin — monetary congratulatory gift), 祝儀 (shuugi — congratulatory gift).
The noun お祝い (o-iwai) is used both for the celebration itself and for the monetary gift given on ceremonial occasions. In Japan, giving cash (現金, genkin) in a special envelope (祝儀袋, shuugibukuro) for weddings, births, graduations, and other milestones is culturally standard — more so than giving physical gifts. The appropriate amount and envelope style depend on the relationship and occasion. Giving an amount with 4 (死, shi — death) or numbers that split evenly in two (symbolizing separation) is avoided for wedding gifts.
祝 (shuku/iwau) features the 示 (shimesu — altar, spirit) radical on the left, indicating a connection to ritual and ceremony. The right component depicts a figure with an open mouth, suggesting joyful speech or chanting at a sacred space. Together: celebrating at an altar — an offering of joy. It appears in 祝日 (shukujitsu — national holiday/celebratory day), 祝辞 (shuuji — congratulatory address), 祝福 (shukufuku — blessing).
Everyday use
友人の合格を一緒に祝おうと思う。
Yuujin no goukaku wo issho ni iwaou to omou.
I’m thinking of celebrating my friend’s acceptance together.
Casual / Social Media
昨日誕生日で皆がサプライズしてくれた。こんなに祝ってもらえるとは思ってなかった
Kinou tanjoubi de mina ga sapuraizu shite kureta. Konna ni iwatte moraeru to wa omotte nakatta
Yesterday was my birthday and everyone threw me a surprise. I didn’t expect to be celebrated like this
Formal / Cultural context
「祝う」行為は単なる感情表出にとどまらず、当該人物のライフイベントを社会的に承認し、関係性の強化・共同体への帰属確認として機能する社会的儀礼であり、日本では贈答慣行（お祝い金・品）と組み合わさることで経済的・社会的絆の再確認の場ともなっている。
‘Iwau’ koui wa tannaru kanjou hyoushutsu ni todomarazu, tougai jinbutsu no raifu ibento wo shakaitekini shounin shi, kankeisei no kyouka kyoudoutai e no kizokunkakunin toshite kinouu shakaitekigirei de ari, Nihon de wa zoutou kankou (o-iwai-kin shina) to kumiawasareru koto de keizaiteki shakaitekikizuna no sakakunin no ba to mo natte iru.
The act of ‘iwau’ (celebrating) goes beyond mere emotional expression and functions as a social ritual that socially recognizes another person’s life event, strengthening relationships and confirming belonging to a community; in Japan it also becomes an occasion for reaffirming economic and social bonds when combined with gift-giving practices (monetary gifts and items).
Japan has a rich calendar of お祝い (o-iwai — celebratory occasions) tied to life stages. The major life-event celebrations include: お宮参り (omiya-mairi — first shrine visit at 30-100 days after birth), お七夜 (o-shichi-ya — naming ceremony on the 7th night), 七五三 (shichi-go-san — shrine visit at ages 7, 5, 3), 成人式 (seijin-shiki — coming-of-age ceremony at 20), 結婚式 (kekkon-shiki — wedding ceremony), 還暦 (kanreki — 60th birthday celebration), and 喜寿 (kiju — 77th birthday). Each occasion has associated gift amounts, envelope styles, and celebration customs.
Wedding 祝い金 (iwai-kin — congratulatory money) in Japan has detailed social rules. Close friends typically give ¥30,000–¥50,000; colleagues give ¥20,000–¥30,000; acquaintances may give ¥10,000–¥20,000. The 祝儀袋 (shuugibukuro — congratulatory envelope) must be prepared correctly: new bills (新札, shinsatsu), the proper knot style on the decorative cord (結び切り, musubikiri — a knot that cannot be untied, symbolizing a lasting bond), and the gift amount written in formal kanji. The meticulous protocol around iwai reflects how seriously Japan takes the formal marking of life milestones.
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