How to say "celebration" in Japanese

• 祝福しゅくふくCommon
  noun, suru verb, transitive verbThis is celebration as blessing: wishing someone good luck or happiness on a joyous occasion, rather than a festive event itself. Choose it when the emphasis is on giving one's blessing.
  私わたしたちは彼かれの成功せいこうを祝福しゅくふくした。↗

  We congratulated him on his success.
• 記念きねんJLPT N3approx.Common
  noun, suru verb, transitive verbCelebration here means commemoration: marking and remembering an event, as with an anniversary or milestone. Use it when the point is remembrance of the occasion rather than congratulating a person.
  今日きょうの式典しきてんは、わが校こうの100周年しゅうねんを記念きねんするものです。↗

  Today's ceremony marks the 100th anniversary of our school.
• 祝いいわいJLPT N3approx.Common
  nounA general word for a celebration or festive occasion, also covering congratulations. Use it when you mean the celebration itself — the party or festival — rather than the act of blessing or commemorating.
  私は彼かれの卒業そつぎょう祝いわいに電報でんぽうを打うった。↗

  I wired him a message of congratulation on his graduation.
• 祝儀しゅうぎCommon
  nounPoints to a celebratory event, and in particular to weddings; wedding ceremony is one of its senses. For ordinary celebrations — a party, a festival — this is seldom the word you want.
• 祝賀しゅくがJLPT N1approx.Common
  suru verb, transitive verb, no-adjectiveCelebration as congratulations: offering congratulations on someone's success or another happy occasion. It centers on the congratulatory sense of 'celebration' rather than the festive event itself.

Choose 「祝い」 for a celebration as a festive occasion, 記念 for commemorating an anniversary or milestone, 祝賀 for congratulating an achievement, 祝福 for blessing or wishing good luck, and 祝儀 chiefly for weddings.

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

• 祝福しゅくふくcelebration (of a joyous occasion)
• 記念きねんcommemoration
• 祝いいわいcongratulation
• 祝儀しゅうぎcelebration
• 祝賀しゅくがcelebration
• 祝い事いわいごとcelebration
• 挙行きょこうcelebration (of ceremony)
• 祝典しゅくてんcelebration
• 慶祝けいしゅくcongratulation
• 披露宴ひろうえんreception (e.g. wedding)
• お祝いおいわいcongratulation
• 謳歌おうかrejoicing
• セレブレーションcelebration
• 奉祝ほうしゅくcelebration
• 慶賀けいがcelebration
• 祝賀会しゅくがかいcelebration
• 賀がcongratulation
• 典てんceremony
• 祝言しゅうげんfestivities
• 喜びごとよろこびごとauspicious event
• 賀儀がぎcelebratory ceremony
• 心祝いこころいわい(informal) celebration
• 式しきceremony
• 祝しゅくcelebration (of)
• 寿じゅcongratulation