寿・壽|ことぶきkotobuki[2]nakadaka (mid-high)

1. nouncongratulations; felicitations; best wisheswritten on envelopes containing monetary gifts, etc.
2. nounlongevity; long life

• Synonym祝賀しゅくがNeutralCongratulating someone on a happy occasion (「祝賀会」); the standard word for formal celebrations, unlike the literary 「寿」.
• Synonym慶祝けいしゅくNeutralCelebration (「慶祝行事」); leans toward written, formal prose.
• Synonymお祝いおいわいCasualPolite, everyday form of 「祝い」 for congratulations and gifts (「結婚のお祝い」); the natural spoken choice, while 「寿」 stays written and ceremonial.
• Related祝いいわいNeutralThe most general word for a celebration or a congratulatory gift (「お祝いの品」); 「寿」 is more literary, seen on gift envelopes and invitations, with an auspicious flavor.
• Related祝辞しゅくじNeutralCongratulatory address (「祝辞を述べる」); focuses on the words spoken, not the celebration itself.
• Related慶賀けいがWrittenFormal, solemn written word for celebrating (「慶賀の至り」); 「寿」 is what appears on gift envelopes and invitations.
• Related賀慶がけいWrittenWritten-style term for celebration; it is simply 「慶賀」 with the characters reversed, and is rare in modern Japanese.
• Antonym夭折ようせつNeutralDying young (「夭折した天才」); the opposite of the longevity sense of 「寿」.
• Antonym短命たんめいNeutralA short life (「短命に終わる」); the direct opposite of 「寿」.

Use 「寿」 for longevity and auspicious occasions — 「喜寿」, 「寿退社」, or the character written on gift envelopes. In daily conversation say 「お祝い」; for formal celebrations, 「祝賀」; for a congratulatory speech, 「祝辞」. The opposites of 「寿」 are 「夭折」 and 「短命」.

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

1. (ことぶき) いのち。また、いのちの長ながいこと。長命ちょうめい。長寿ちょうじゅ。
2. (ことぶき・ことほぎ) めでたいことを祝いわうこと。また、祝いわいの言葉ことばや儀式ぎしき。
3. (ことぶき) めでたいこと。