年賀状(ねんがじょう)

Usage: 年賀状(ねんがじょう) is an important New Year tradition in Japan. People send cards to friends, relatives, coworkers, and business contacts.

Common collocations

• 年賀状(ねんがじょう)を書(か)く (to write New Year's cards)
• 年賀状(ねんがじょう)を出(だ)す (to send New Year's cards)
• 年賀状(ねんがじょう)を印刷(いんさつ)する (to print New Year's cards)
• 年賀状(ねんがじょう)じまい (announcing you'll stop sending cards)

Cultural note

• 年賀(ねんが)ハガキ (official New Year postcards from Japan Post) include a lottery number
• Cards must be sent by Dec 25 to arrive on January 1
• The design often features the year's Chinese zodiac animal (干支(えと))
• "あけましておめでとうございます" is the standard greeting
• If you receive a card from someone you didn't send one to, send a reply by January 7
• Do not send to people who are in 喪中(もちゅう) (mourning)

Modern trend: Many people are shifting to digital greetings (LINE, email), leading to the practice of 年賀状(ねんがじょう)じまい (announcing one will stop sending paper cards).