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[For Seniors] Chic phrases you can use on New Year’s cards: sample messages that are sure to please
As the year draws to a close, many people find themselves wondering what brief message to add to their New Year’s cards.
Beyond a formal greeting, including a tasteful line that resonates with the recipient can make the joy of the New Year all the more special.
Especially for cards sent to elders or those you hold in high regard, it’s best to choose words that are both warm and refined.
Here, we introduce memorable one-line messages—such as wishes for health and happiness or words of gratitude for the past year—that are sure to please older recipients.
We hope these ideas help make your New Year’s cards even more heartfelt gifts.
[For Seniors] Stylish One-Liners for New Year’s Cards: Sample Phrases That Will Delight (1–10)
I hope this early spring finds you in good health.
“Sukoyaka” means that both the mind and body are healthy and robust.
This expression conveys the joy that the other person has welcomed a healthy and good New Year.
Also, “zonjimasu” is the polite form of “to think” or “to know,” so it is recommended as a phrase to add when addressing superiors or elderly people.
When sending New Year’s greeting cards to someone important, you’ll want to use more polite language than usual and add a slightly sophisticated touch.
The recipient may be impressed and think, “This person uses very polite and refined expressions.”
Please take good care of yourself during this severe cold.
How about the refined phrase “In this time of severe cold, please take good care of yourself”? Here, ori means “time” or “occasion” and is used as a polite expression.
And jiai literally means “self-love,” that is, to value oneself and look after one’s health.
It’s a very courteous way to convey the feeling of “It’s bitterly cold, so please mind your health.” The recipient will likely be pleased, thinking, “What a stylish turn of phrase.” Since it suits anyone—friends, relatives, former colleagues—try adding it to your New Year’s cards.
Wishing you a year of peace and tranquility.
We all want to spend our days in peace and tranquility.
And we wish the same calm, composed days for those we care about.
With that sentiment in mind, try adding, “May you spend a year of tranquility and peace.” “Please spend” is fine, but using “may you” conveys greater politeness and respect.
It’s a phrase that’s easy to offer to superiors, relatives, and older people, so it’s a handy expression for many situations.
Wishing you all good health and happiness.
The key point of this phrase is the addition of ‘minasama no’ (everyone’s).
Even without it, your consideration for the other person comes across, but including it conveys care for all the people around the recipient—their family, friends, and others.
It makes one happy to realize there’s someone wishing not only for their own well-being, but also for the health and happiness of those around them.
As a stylish line to add to a New Year’s card, why not deliver this message in a smart, refined way?
Thank you for the wonderful connection over the past year.
Goen is a word that refers to the bonds and serendipitous connections between people.
Why not add this word to a New Year’s card you’re sending to someone you met last year and grew close to? Adding the phrase “wonderful” deepens the sentiment even more.
It conveys feelings like “I’m glad I met you” and “I’m grateful our paths crossed.” By the way, since the word for “last year” (koyomi: kyonen) contains the nuance of “departing,” it’s best to use “the previous year” (kyūnen) or “last year” (sakunen) in New Year’s cards.
I look forward to your continued support this year as well.
As a message to someone you’ve known for many years, we recommend: “I look forward to your continued support this year as well.” Of course, specific phrases like “Let’s go to lunch together again this year” are lovely too, but the words “continued support” convey both everyday gratitude and the wish to spend the new year together.
If you have many things you want to say but can’t quite put them together, why not use this phrase? It allows you to express your feelings to the other person smartly and concisely.
How have you been?
This phrase is used to ask about someone’s recent situation and health.
It’s an easy expression to use with people who live far away and you rarely see, or with those you only exchange New Year’s cards with.
Even if you don’t usually meet often, using this phrase can convey your concern and may prompt them to send you an update.
However, be careful: it’s not suitable if you know the person is unwell or is in a particularly busy situation.
Also, for people you’re close with, a more casual expression is usually better, so consider choosing a different phrase.
Thanks to you, I’m having fulfilling days even though I’m busy.
When sending New Year’s cards to people you don’t often get to see, try adding: “Thanks to your support, I’ve been busy but spending fulfilling days.” The phrase “okagesama de” conveys gratitude and respect.
It lets the recipient know that, while busy, you’re enjoying your days—something likely to make them happy.
Pairing this with a wish to meet again can further convey warmth.
It’s suitable for close acquaintances as well as for superiors and older recipients, so feel free to use it as a reference.
I pray that it will be a year full of blessings.
A year full of good fortune literally means that happiness visits often and continues throughout the year.
For someone important to whom you’re sending New Year’s cards, you want them to have a year overflowing with joy, don’t you? The phrase “I pray for you” conveys that you truly care about them, and it’s likely to warm the heart of the person who receives your card.
It’s always nice to know there’s someone who thinks of you.
This message might even prompt them to reach out, saying they’d love to meet after a long time.
It’s a phrase that’s easy to send both to people you’re usually close with and to those who live far away and are hard to see often.
I pray that this year will be a good one as well.
As a brief message to wish someone happiness and good health, how about: “I pray that this year will be a good one for you.” By using “a good year,” this phrase conveys a wish for everything—from health to everyday happenings—to go well.
Even when you have many things you’d like to say but can’t quite put them together, or when you’re unsure what to write, it lets you express your care in a smart and polite way.
It’s also very versatile, as it suits any recipient.