{"id":29277,"date":"2025-09-08T15:40:09","date_gmt":"2025-09-08T19:40:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pimsleur.com\/blog\/?p=29277"},"modified":"2025-10-28T13:12:51","modified_gmt":"2025-10-28T17:12:51","slug":"18-japanese-greetings-you-need-to-know","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pimsleur.com\/blog\/18-japanese-greetings-you-need-to-know\/","title":{"rendered":"18 Japanese Greetings You Need to Know"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\u3053\u3093\u306b\u3061\u306f Konnichiwa<\/em>! (Hello!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ready to learn some Japanese<\/a> greetings? Fair warning \u2013 there\u2019s a lot more to it than just stringing the right words together. In Japan, \u6328\u62f6 aisatsu<\/em> (greetings) are fundamental to \u548c wa<\/em> <\/strong>(social harmony) \u2013 the very foundation of the culture. Using the right greetings in Japanese demonstrates respect, courtesy, and awareness of social hierarchy in every interaction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some common Japanese greetings, such as \u3053\u3093\u306b\u3061\u306f Konnichiwa<\/em> (Hello), are spoken daily, while others are used for specific times of day or types of encounters. Some Japanese greeting phrases are used between friends, while others are reserved for more formal salutations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While learning how to say Good Morning<\/a> or Goodbye in different languages <\/a>is always useful, with Japanese, greetings offer deeper insight into the culture of respect. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s walk through some Japanese greetings and discover which ones require the added gesture of a respectful bow. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Common Japanese Greeting Phrases for Everyday Use<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Japanese greetings vary based on time of day, social setting, and levels of formality. Some are simple and casual, perfect for friends and peers, while others require a respectful tone and sometimes a bow. Here are seven of the most common Japanese greetings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. \u304a\u306f\u3088\u3046<\/strong>\u3002 <\/strong>Ohay\u014d.<\/em> <\/strong>\u2013 Good morning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Used casually between friends, family, or co-workers of equal status before noon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. \u304a\u306f\u3088\u3046\u3054\u3056\u3044\u307e\u3059<\/strong>\u3002Ohay\u014d gozaimasu.<\/em> <\/strong>\u2013 Good morning. (polite)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Adding \u3054\u3056\u3044\u307e\u3059 <\/strong>gozaimasu<\/em> makes the greeting \u304a\u306f\u3088\u3046 <\/strong>Ohay\u014d<\/em> formal and respectful. It\u2019s used when showing extra politeness, like when you\u2019re speaking to a teacher, your boss, or a stranger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. \u3053\u3093\u306b\u3061\u306f<\/strong>\u3002Konnichiwa.<\/em> <\/strong>\u2013 Hello. \/ Good afternoon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The most well-known Japanese greeting, \u3053\u3093\u306b\u3061\u306f <\/strong>Konnichiwa<\/em>, is your go-to \u201chello\u201d once the morning rush is over. You can use this to greet a person for the first time, as well as to greet someone mid-day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. \u3053\u3093\u3070\u3093\u306f<\/strong>\u3002Konbanwa.<\/em> <\/strong>\u2013 Good evening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Used after sundown in both formal and informal settings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. \u3082\u3057\u3082\u3057<\/strong>\u3002Moshi moshi.<\/em> \u2013 Hello. (on the telephone only)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

General greeting when answering the phone. For business calls, a simple \u306f\u3044 Hai <\/em>(yes) is preferred.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

6. \u3044\u3089\u3063\u3057\u3083\u3044\u307e\u305b<\/strong>\u3002Irasshaimase.<\/em> \u2013 Welcome. (to a store, restaurant, or someone\u2019s home)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is how a host welcomes you. You will hear this over and over while shopping, dining at a restaurant, or visiting someone\u2019s home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

7. \u304a\u3064\u304b\u308c\u3055\u307e\u3067\u3059<\/strong>\u3002Otsukaresama desu.<\/em> <\/strong>\u2013 Thanks for your hard work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This workplace greeting in Japanese is used between co-workers or within a group of peers to say \u201cHello,\u201d \u201cGoodbye,\u201d or to acknowledge a job well done.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Beyond the most common Japanese greetings, the following phrases pop up in specific situations. Some are charmingly polite, while others are casually cool. Here\u2019s how to use them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Japanese<\/strong><\/td>Transliteration<\/strong><\/td>English Translation<\/strong><\/td>Context<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
\u3059\u307f\u307e\u305b\u3093\u3002<\/td>Sumimasen.<\/em><\/td>Excuse me.<\/td>Used when engaging a stranger<\/td><\/tr>
\u306f\u3058\u3081\u307e\u3057\u3066\u3002<\/td>Hajimemashite.<\/em><\/td>Nice to meet you.<\/td>Used when meeting someone for the first time<\/td><\/tr>
\u305f\u3060\u3044\u307e\u3002<\/td>Tadaima.<\/em><\/td>I\u2019m back.<\/td>Used when returning home<\/td><\/tr>
\u304a\u304b\u3048\u308a\u306a\u3055\u3044\u3002<\/td>Okaeri nasai.<\/em><\/td>Welcome back.<\/td>Used when someone returns home<\/td><\/tr>
\u304a\u3058\u3083\u307e\u3057\u307e\u3059\u3002<\/td>Ojama shimasu.<\/em><\/td>Sorry to intrude.<\/td>Used when entering a home as a guest; a response to \u3044\u3089\u3063\u3057\u3083\u3044\u307e\u305b <\/strong>Irasshaimase<\/em><\/td><\/tr>
\u304a\u3072\u3055\u3057\u3076\u308a\u3067\u3059\u3002<\/td>Ohisashi buri desu.<\/em><\/td>Long time no see.<\/td>Used when reconnecting after a long while<\/td><\/tr>
\u304a\u3063\u3059\u3002<\/td>Ossu.<\/em><\/td>Hey.<\/td>Used casually by young men or in martial arts<\/td><\/tr>
\u30cf\u30ed\u30fc\u3002<\/td>Haro.<\/em><\/td>Hello.<\/td>Informal \u201chello\u201d borrowed from English; used for fun or in texts<\/td><\/tr>
\u30e4\u30c3\u30db\u30fc\uff01<\/td>Yah-hoh!<\/em><\/td>Yoo-hoo!<\/td>Used casually mostly by children and young women; typically associated with girl characters in anime and manga<\/td><\/tr>
\u3088\u30fc\uff01<\/td>Yo!<\/em><\/td>Yo!<\/td>Used casually mostly among men\/young men; typically associated with boy characters in anime and manga<\/td><\/tr>
\u3084\u3042\u3002<\/td>Yaa.<\/em><\/td>Hi.<\/td>You\u2019ll mostly only hear this in anime or read this in manga as it is not commonly spoken in person; typically associated with polite or old-fashioned characters<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Formal vs. Informal Greetings in Japanese<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Japanese greetings are deeply rooted in hierarchy and social awareness. So, rather than shaking hands \u2013 an egalitarian gesture between equals \u2013 people in Japan often add a respectful \u304a\u8f9e\u5100 ojigi<\/em> <\/strong>(bow) in many situations. There are three levels of \u304a\u8f9e\u5100 ojigi<\/em>, each <\/strong>conveying increasing levels of deference:<\/p>\n\n\n\n