年賀(ねんが)はがき

ねんがはがき
noun
New Year's postcard
writtenspokenculturedaily-life
1. New Year's postcard; nengajo postcard
A special postcard sent to friends, relatives, and business contacts to convey New Year's greetings. Sold by Japan Post with lottery numbers printed on them. Tradition calls for them to arrive on January 1st.
年賀(ねんが)はがきを五十枚(ごじゅうまい)買(か)った。
I bought fifty New Year's postcards.
年賀(ねんが)はがきの受付(うけつけ)は十二月(じゅうにがつ)十五日(じゅうごにち)から始(はじ)まる。
Acceptance of New Year's postcards begins on December 15th.
最近(さいきん)はメールやSNSが増(ふ)えて、年賀(ねんが)はがきを出(だ)す人(ひと)が減(へ)ってきている。
Recently, with the increase in email and social media, fewer people are sending New Year's postcards.

Composed of 年賀(ねんが) (New Year's greeting) and はがき (postcard). Japan Post sells special 年賀(ねんが)はがき every autumn with a lottery number (抽選番号(ちゅうせんばんごう)) on each card — winners are announced in mid-January.

Cultural note

Sending 年賀(ねんが)はがき is one of Japan's most important seasonal customs. Cards are written in December and posted early enough to arrive on 元旦(がんたん) (January 1st). Japan Post holds them and delivers them all at once on New Year's Day. The custom is declining due to digital communication but remains important for formal and business relationships.

Common collocations

  • 年賀(ねんが)はがきを出(だ)す: to send New Year's postcards
  • 年賀(ねんが)はがきを書(か)く: to write New Year's postcards
  • 年賀(ねんが)はがきの当選番号(とうせんばんごう): New Year's postcard winning numbers
  • 年賀(ねんが)はがきの印刷(いんさつ): printing New Year's postcards
  • お年玉(としだま)つき年賀(ねんが)はがき: New Year's postcard with lottery prize

Similar words

Related Words

Compare: 年賀状(ねんがじょう) (New Year's greeting card)
Compare: 暑中見舞(しょちゅうみま)い (summer greeting card)
general
Added 2026.4.20 19:27 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02
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