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Summer greeting.暑中お見舞い申し上げます。

Emiko S

Summer Greeting

暑中お見舞い申し上げます。
(Shōchū omimai mōshiagemasu.)

Summer in Japan is extremely hot and humid, especially in the cities. During this season, we have a tradition of sending summer greeting cards to relatives, customers, business partners, and others. It’s a polite way to show that you’re thinking of someone and wishing them good health. The phrase roughly means, “I hope you’re staying well and keeping cool during the hottest time of the year.”

Let’s look at the expression:

暑中(しょちゅう) means “during the hottest part of summer.”
お見舞い(おみまい) literally means “a visit or message to express care or concern.” In this phrase, it means “I hope you’re doing well.”
申し上げます(もうしあげます) is a very polite and respectful way of saying “I offer” or “I express.”


Unfortunately, this tradition has gradually faded over the years, and I haven’t sent summer greeting cards recently either. However, the spirit of caring for others during the hot season still remains, especially in business settings. So, I hope it’s useful for you to learn this beautiful Japanese expression.


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The opinions expressed in this column are the author's own and do not reflect the view of Cafetalk.

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