Translation and Meaning of: 生年月日 - seinengapi

The Japanese word 生年月日 (せいねんがっぴ) is essential for anyone learning the language or needing to fill out forms in Japan. It frequently appears in official documents, registrations, and even in everyday conversations when the topic is personal data. In this article, we will explore its meaning, how it is written, as well as tips for memorizing and using it correctly in different situations.

If you've ever wondered what this combination of kanji means or how to pronounce it in formal contexts, you're in the right place. Here at Suki Nihongo, we aim to explain Japanese terms clearly and practically, helping you avoid common mistakes. Let's start by uncovering the components of this word and its usage in everyday Japanese.

Meaning and composition of 生年月日

生年月日 is composed of four kanji that together mean "date of birth." Each of them has a specific function in the formation of the term. The first kanji, 生 (せい), represents "birth" or "life." The next ones, 年 (ねん) and 月 (がつ), mean "year" and "month," respectively. Finally, 日 (ぴ) completes the word with "day."

When combined, these characters create a formal expression used to refer to the complete date on which someone was born. Unlike Portuguese, where we simply say "date of birth", in Japanese the construction is more literal, explicitly indicating year, month, and day. This precision is valued in documents and situations that require clarity.

Practical use and common situations

The term 生年月日 (seinamei bi), or "date of birth," primarily appears in official forms, registrations on Japanese websites, and when providing personal information. If you have ever filled out a profile on an online service in Japan, you have likely encountered this field. Companies and government agencies often request this information for identification, similar to how it works in the West with CPF or RG.

In informal conversations, Japanese people usually do not use the full 生年月日. Instead, they prefer to ask only for the year (誕生年) or say "When is your birthday?" (誕生日はいつですか). The complete version sounds more technical, suitable for bureaucratic contexts. Knowing when to use each variation avoids embarrassing situations.

Tips for memorizing and avoiding mistakes

An effective way to remember 生年月日 is to associate each kanji with its meaning in English, creating a logical sequence: life (生) + year (年) + month (月) + day (日). Another tip is to practice writing several times, as the stroke order is important. The pronunciation "seinen gappi" also helps to reinforce this, especially the "gappi" at the end, which sounds different from what is expected.

A common mistake among students is to confuse 月 (がつ) with its alternative reading (つき). In this case, it is always pronounced "gatsu" when referring to months. It is also important to note that 日 here is read as "pi" and not "hi" or "ka", as in other words. These nuances make all the difference when it comes to being understood correctly.

Vocabulary

Expand your vocabulary with related words:

Synonyms and similar words

• 誕生日 (Tanjoubi) - Birth date
• 生誕日 (Seitanbi) - Birthday
• 生年月 (Seinengappi) - Year and month of birth
• 誕生年月日 (Tanjou nengappi) - Complete date of birth (day, month, and year)
• 誕生年月 (Tanjou nengetsu) - Month and year of birth

生年月日

Romaji: seinengapi
Kana: せいねんがっぴ
Type: noun, noun
L: jlpt-n2

Translation / Meaning: date of birth

Meaning in English: birth date

Definition: Individual's birthday, date of birth.

Example Sentences - (生年月日) seinengapi

See below some example sentences:

私の生年月日は何ですか？

Watashi no seinen gappi wa nan desu ka?

What is my date of birth?

What is my date of birth?

• 私 - Japanese personal pronoun that means "I"
• の - Japanese particle that indicates possession or relationship
• 生年月日 - Japanese compound noun meaning "date of birth"
• は - Japanese particle indicating the subject of the sentence
• 何 - Japanese interrogative pronoun meaning "what"
• ですか - Japanese expression indicating a polite question