Beginners Guide to Happiness in Japanese

How do you say “happy” in Japanese? I have been asked this question many, many times and this is one of the hardest questions to answer. It really depends on the context and in the course of my career as a professional translator, I’m sure I used tens of different words to translate it, but we have to start somewhere, so here is a very basic list of words that can be used for “happy”.

Long Term Happiness

If you are talking about general, prevailing “happiness” for a period of time: 幸しあわせ（な）、幸福こうふく（な）

a happy marriage
幸しあわせな結婚けっこん（生活せいかつ）

I think my mum was happy.
母ははは幸福こうふくだったと思います。

Transient Happiness

If you are talking about a temporary, passing feeling: うれしい or たのしい (I probably need to write another article about the difference between these two one of these days.)

I’m happy to meet you.
お目めにかかれてうれしいです。

I went to the zoo and I was happy.
動物園どうぶつえんにいって、たのしかったです。

Children look very happy.
子こどもたちはとてもたのしそうだ。

John is happy with his present job.
ジョンさんはいまの仕事しごとに満足まんぞくしています。

I’m happy to go to the party.
喜よろこんでパーティーに行きます。