“Happy” in Japanese is 嬉しい (うれしい), pronounced ureshii.
Pronunciation
The word has 4 beats (morae), each about the same length. Tap a syllable to hear it, or play the whole word:
How to use it
Happy or glad about something that happened. For deep, lasting happiness, use 幸せ.
Example sentences
- 会えて嬉しいです。あえてうれしいです。I’m happy to see you.
- プレゼント、嬉しかったです。プレゼント、うれしかったです。I was so happy with the present.
Conjugation
The most useful forms of 嬉しい. The rules are explained in い- vs. な-adjectives.
| Form | Japanese | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Plain | 嬉しい うれしい | happy |
| Polite present | 嬉しいです うれしいです | is happy |
| Negative | 嬉しくないです うれしくないです | isn’t happy |
| Past | 嬉しかったです うれしかったです | was happy |
| Past negative | 嬉しくなかったです うれしくなかったです | wasn’t happy |
| て-form | 嬉しくて うれしくて | happy and… |
| Adverb (く) | 嬉しく うれしく | adverb form (+ verb) |
Quick practice
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Related words: Adjectives
FAQ
How do you say happy in Japanese?
Happy in Japanese is 嬉しい (うれしい), pronounced “ureshii”.
How do you write happy in Japanese?
It's written 嬉しい with kanji, or うれしい in hiragana. Both are read ureshii.
Is 嬉しい on the JLPT?
Yes. 嬉しい (ureshii) is a common word at JLPT N4 level, so it's worth learning early.