How to say "celebrate" in Japanese

• 祝ういわうJLPT N3approx.Common
  godan verb, transitive verbThe word for celebrating a happy occasion such as a birthday, wedding, or festival, and for congratulating someone on their success or good fortune. Use it for parties and festivities.
  今年ことしタイ航空こうくうは５０周年しゅうねん記念きねんを祝いわいます。↗

  Thai Air celebrates its 50th anniversary this year.
• うたうCommon
  godan verb, transitive verbHere 'celebrate' means to extol or sing the praises of someone's virtues or achievements in words or song, not to mark an occasion — for that use 祝う. Usually written in kana alone.

Use 「祝う」 for celebrating an occasion or congratulating someone — birthdays, weddings, festivals; use 「うたう」 only for the figurative sense of celebrating someone's virtues or achievements, that is, praising or extolling them.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 祝ういわうto celebrate
• うたうto extol
• 祝するしゅくするto congratulate
• 頌するしょうするto celebrate (someone's achievements)
• 寿ぐことほぐto congratulate
• 祝すしゅくすto congratulate
• 称えるたたえるto praise