Japanese basics
Japanese greetings
A handful of greetings will carry you through most everyday encounters in Japan. This page gathers the ones you will hear all day long, written in hiragana with romaji, their meaning and when each one fits. Read the hiragana rather than the romaji if you can: greetings are the perfect first words to practise the script on.
Hello, at any time of day
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning | When to use it |
|---|---|---|---|
| おはよう | ohayō | Good morning | Casual, with family and friends, until about 10 a.m. |
| おはようございます | ohayō gozaimasu | Good morning | Polite. Also the first greeting of the day at work, whatever the hour. |
| こんにちは | konnichiwa | Hello, good afternoon | The default daytime greeting, from late morning to sunset. Written with は, read wa. |
| こんばんは | konbanwa | Good evening | From sunset onwards. Also written with は, read wa. |
| おやすみなさい | oyasumi nasai | Good night | When going to bed or parting late at night. おやすみ alone is casual. |
Japanese has no all-purpose "hi": pick the greeting by the time of day. こんにちは and こんばんは end with the particle は, which is why the last syllable is pronounced wa even though the kana normally reads ha.
Thank you and sorry
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning | When to use it |
|---|---|---|---|
| ありがとう | arigatō | Thanks | Casual. |
| ありがとうございます | arigatō gozaimasu | Thank you | Polite. Use it with anyone you do not know well. |
| どうも | dōmo | Thanks, hi | Very casual and very common: a quick thanks to a shop assistant. |
| すみません | sumimasen | Excuse me, sorry, thank you | The most useful word in Japanese: to call a waiter, apologise, or thank someone for their trouble. |
| ごめんなさい | gomen nasai | I am sorry | A real apology. ごめん alone is casual. |
| どういたしまして | dō itashimashite | You are welcome | Slightly formal; a nod or いえいえ (ie ie, not at all) is more common. |
Meeting someone
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning | When to use it |
|---|---|---|---|
| はじめまして | hajimemashite | Nice to meet you | The first thing you say to someone new, literally "for the first time". |
| よろしくおねがいします | yoroshiku onegai shimasu | Please treat me well | Closes an introduction; no real English equivalent. Also used when asking a favour. |
| おげんきですか | ogenki desu ka | How are you? | For people you have not seen in a while, not a daily small-talk opener. |
| げんきです | genki desu | I am fine | The answer to the question above. |
| おひさしぶりです | ohisashiburi desu | Long time no see | When meeting someone again after a while. |
At home and at the table
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning | When to use it |
|---|---|---|---|
| いってきます | ittekimasu | I am off (and coming back) | Said when leaving home. |
| いってらっしゃい | itterasshai | See you later, take care | The reply, from whoever stays. |
| ただいま | tadaima | I am home | Said when coming back. |
| おかえりなさい | okaeri nasai | Welcome back | The reply. おかえり alone is casual. |
| いただきます | itadakimasu | Thanks for the meal (before eating) | Said before the first bite, hands together. |
| ごちそうさまでした | gochisōsama deshita | Thanks for the meal (after eating) | Said when you finish, to the cook or the staff. |
Goodbye
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning | When to use it |
|---|---|---|---|
| さようなら | sayōnara | Goodbye | More final than it sounds: for long partings, or from pupils to teachers. Not for everyday use. |
| じゃあね | jā ne | See you | Casual, between friends. |
| またね | mata ne | See you again | Casual. また明日 (mata ashita) is "see you tomorrow". |
| しつれいします | shitsurei shimasu | Excuse me (I am leaving) | Polite: leaving a room, an office, or ending a phone call. |
| おつかれさまでした | otsukaresama deshita | Thanks for your hard work | Said to colleagues at the end of the day. |
Two things to know about Japanese greetings
- Politeness is built in. The longer form is the polite one: ありがとう for friends, ありがとうございます for everyone else. When in doubt, use the long form.
- Bow, lightly. A small nod of the head accompanies most greetings. Handshakes are rare.
Ready for full sentences? Continue with the basic Japanese phrases, and check the pronunciation guide for the long ō in ohayō and arigatō.
Practice with Kanapup
Every greeting on this page is written in hiragana. Learn the characters in the app and you will read them, not just repeat them.