Is there any good phrasing to wish a good year on someone's birthday? Is "your 20th year" or "the year of your 20-year-old" understandable? Is "I hope the year of your twenty-year-old will be a happy

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Is there any good phrasing to wish a good year on someone's birthday? Is "your 20th year" or "the year of your 20-year-old" understandable? Is "I hope the year of your twenty-year-old will be a happy one" acceptable?

Oct 18, 2019 9:10 PM

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Great Answers!! Thank you very much, everyone!! :)

October 18, 2019

Don’t forget that if someone’s turning 20, they’re officially entering their 21st year. Not many people care to acknowledge that fact, though. For birthdays, since aging can sometimes be a sensitive issue, it’s probably wise to focus on the lower number. As for an acceptable greeting, you could just say, “Wishing you a wonderful year on your 20th birthday!” or “Much happiness and success as you enter your 21st year!” (if you wanted to go ahead and focus on the higher number) or “Happy 20th! Here’s to a great year ahead!” Hope that helps!

October 18, 2019

Is there any good phrasing to wish a good year on someone's birthday?

Is "your 20th year" or "the <s style="color: rgb(230, 0, 0);">year of your 20-year-old</s>" understandable? Understandable yes, but <em style="color: rgb(0, 102, 204);">see below</em>.

Is "I hope the <s style="color: rgb(230, 0, 0);">year of your twenty-year-old</s> will be a happy one" acceptable? No.

<em>Those are both quite odd and would not use either for a birthday greeting. I wouldn't use "year of your twenty-year-old" in any circumstance, it's not correct. I would use "your 20th year" if it was someone's 20th year at the same place, for example, "I hope your 20th year working at Tokyo University is a good one." Instead, I would suggest these alternatives:</em>

<ol><li>"I hope your 20th birthday brings you a year of happiness!"</li><li>"I hope this year is full of happiness!"</li><li>"I hope your 20th year will be a happy one!" -- In the U.S., at least, it's uncommon to refer to a birth year so this sentence sounds strange to me. </li></ol>

I would recommend number 1. Hope this helps!

October 18, 2019