How to say "congratulate" in Japanese

• 祝ういわうJLPT N3approx.Common
  godan verb, transitive verbThe word you want for congratulating someone on a happy occasion such as a wedding, birth or promotion; it also means to celebrate, so it suits events you mark festively as well as congratulate.
  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.
• 喜ぶよろこぶJLPT N4approx.Common
  godan verb, transitive verbIts core sense is 'to be glad, to rejoice'; it works as a congratulation only when you express delight at another person's good fortune, so 祝う is the word you want for congratulating someone directly.

Use 「祝う」 to congratulate someone on a happy occasion, since it also means to celebrate; 「喜ぶ」 chiefly means to be glad or rejoice, so it conveys congratulation only by expressing your delight at another person's good fortune.

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

• 祝ういわうto celebrate
• 祝するしゅくするto congratulate
• 賀するがするto congratulate
• 寿ぐことほぐto congratulate
• 寿くことぶくto congratulate
• 賀すがすto congratulate
• 祝すしゅくすto congratulate
• 喜ぶよろこぶto congratulate