How do you say "happy" in Japanese?

幸せ

shiawase

Adjective Kanji

In Japanese, "happy" is 幸せ (shiawase).

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Pronunciation

幸せ is written using kanji. Romanised as shiawase, it sounds roughly like "shee-ah-wah-seh" to an English ear.

Writing and usage

Shiawase is written with the kanji 幸, which on its own can also be read saiwai and appears in words like 幸運 (kōun, good fortune). There is no separate hiragana spelling in everyday use, though beginners sometimes see it written as しあわせ in children's books.

Example sentence

彼女はとても幸せそうです。

Kanojo wa totemo shiawasesou desu.

She looks very happy.

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How to remember 幸せ

The kanji 幸 looks a little like a person standing with arms stretched wide, as if celebrating good news. Picture someone throwing their arms up after hearing something wonderful, and the shape becomes easy to place.

Related words

Browse all Japanese words in the glossary.

See more Japanese adjectives.

Questions about 幸せ

How do you pronounce 幸せ?

幸せ is romanised as shiawase. Say it roughly like "shee-ah-wah-seh" in English. Each Japanese syllable has even weight, so keep the rhythm steady.

Is 幸せ formal or casual?

幸せ is a neutral, everyday word that works in both casual and polite speech. The level of formality comes from the sentence structure around it, not from the word itself.

How is 幸せ written in Japanese?

幸せ is written using kanji. Shiawase is written with the kanji 幸, which on its own can also be read saiwai and appears in words like 幸運 (kōun, good fortune).

Where can I practice Japanese words for free?

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"Happy" in other languages

Curated by Jack Ratcliffe

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