1.
Happy New Year (formal written greeting)
A formal New Year's greeting meaning 'respectfully celebrating the new year.' Used primarily on New Year's cards (年賀状) and in formal written greetings. Literally: 謹 (respectfully) + 賀 (celebrate) + 新年 (new year).
年賀状に「謹賀新年」と書いた。
I wrote 'Happy New Year' on the New Year's card.
会社の入り口に「謹賀新年」の飾りが出ている。
There's a 'Happy New Year' decoration at the entrance of the company.
目上の方への年賀状には、「謹賀新年」のように四文字の賀詞を使うのが正式とされている。
For New Year's cards to superiors, it is considered proper to use four-character greetings like 'Kinga Shinnen.'
USAGE:
This is the most common formal four-character New Year's greeting (賀詞). It is primarily written, not spoken. Appears on 年賀状 (New Year's postcards), store decorations, and company greetings.
FORMALITY:
Four-character greetings like 謹賀新年 and 恭賀新年 are appropriate for superiors and formal contexts. Two-character greetings like 賀正 and 迎春 are considered less formal and should not be used toward superiors.
CULTURE:
Japanese New Year's cards (年賀状) are sent to arrive on January 1st. The greeting printed on the card reflects the relationship between sender and recipient.