How to Say Hello in Japanese

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Japan is a country with a rich and unique culture, and one of the first things you will encounter when immersing yourself in this captivating world is the importance of greetings. Saying hello in Japanese goes far beyond mere polite formalities – it is a way to express respect, establish connections, and showcase an understanding of the customs and language. Whether you are planning a trip to Japan, meeting Japanese friends, or simply want to broaden your cultural knowledge, mastering the art of greetings is essential. In this guide, we will explore the various ways to say hello in Japanese, uncovering not only the words and phrases but also the nuances and cultural significance behind each greeting. So let’s embark on this linguistic journey and learn how to say hello – or “Konnichiwa” – in Japanese!

In Japanese, the most standard way to say “hello” is to use “konnichiwa”, but there are actually many other ways that Japanese people use when greeting someone. Here are some of the most useful examples with usage notes.

Table of Contents

Steps

Say hello standard

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Say “konnichiwa” in almost any situation. ^[1] This is a relatively suitable greeting for all purposes, and if you can only remember one way, it should be remembered.

• You can use this greeting to greet anyone, regardless of social class.
• Since there are different greetings for each time of day, this greeting also has another meaning of “good afternoon”.
• The kanji is written as 今日は. And the hiragana is written as こんにちは.
• The pronunciation is kohn-nee-chee-wah .

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Answer the phone with “moshi moshi”. ^[2] This is the standard way of saying “hello” on the phone.

• Use this greeting whether you are the caller or the recipient of the phone. Moshi moshi is more appropriate when speaking on the phone than konnichiwa .
• Don’t use moshi moshi when talking face to face.
• The hiragana is written as もしもし.
• The pronunciation of moshi moshi is mohsh mohsh .

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Greeting in an informal situation

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Use “ossu” between close male friends. ^[3] This is an informal greeting between close male friends or between male relatives of the same age.

• This phrase is not commonly used between close female friends or with friends of the opposite sex.
• Saying hello with Ossu is the equivalent of saying “hey, man!” (Hi!) or “hey, dude!” (Hi buddy!) in English.
• The hiragana is written as おっす.
• Pronounced ohss .

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In Osaka, people say “yaho” to friends.

• This greeting is usually written only in katakana, as the script is rather hieroglyphic. (ヤーホー）)
• Pronounced yah-hoh.
• Yahoo is also used by young people to greet each other, especially girls.

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Ask “saikin do?” The corresponding English question is “what’s up?” (What’s wrong) or “what’s new?” (What’s New?)

• As with most informal greetings, this question should only be used with close people such as friends, siblings or—sometimes—classmates or co-workers.
• The kanji written as 最近どう?. The hiragana is written as さいきん どう?.
• The pronunciation is sigh-kin doh.

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When greeting someone you haven’t seen in a while, use “hisashiburi”. In English, the most commonly used greetings are “long time, no see” or “it’s been a while.” (it’s been a while)

• You should use this greeting when meeting up with a friend or close family member that you haven’t seen for weeks, months, or years.
• The kanji is written as 久しぶり. The hiragana is written as ひさしぶり.
• For a more respectful greeting, say “o hisashiburi desu ne”. The kanji is written as お久しぶりですね. The hiragana is written as おひさしぶりですね.
• The full pronunciation is oh hee-sah-shee-boo-ree deh-soo neh.

Bowing etiquette when greeting

Bowing is not only a greeting but also a way to show respect to them. This ritual can be done from both sides (although mostly the person who greets will be the one who bows).

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Understand that bowing is equivalent to a respectful handshake. The important thing to keep in mind is when you should bow back.

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When you have someone bow to you, bow back. You should at least bow at the same level, or should bow lower than the other person greets you. Deeper bows show respect, so try to bow lower than the person who bows to you first if they are from a higher social class than you or when you don’t know the person.

• In general, you should bow 15 degrees to people you know and 30 degrees to those who are new or have a higher standing in society. Bowing 45 degrees is not common in greeting situations, unless you are meeting the king or the prime minister.
• If you say hello to your best friend, simply nod at them. This is the most common way of bowing.

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Bow your head in greeting with your hands at your sides, eyes looking in the direction you greet. Make sure to bend from the waist. Just bowing or leaning forward is too casual and may be considered rude.

Greeting during specific times of the day

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Change to “ohayō gozaimasu” in the morning. When greeting someone before lunch, this is the standard greeting.

• Greeting during a specific time period is valued more in Japan than in the US. While you can mechanically say “konnichiwa” in the morning, people are more likely to say “ohayō gozaimasu” in the morning.
• The kanji is written as お早うございます. The hiragana is written as おはようございます.
• You can also shorten your morning greeting with “ohayō” when greeting friends or someone close to you. The kanji is お早う and the hiragana is おはよう.
• Pronounced oh-hah-yoh goh-za-ee-muss .

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Good evening “konbanwa”. After dinner, you should start greeting with this phrase rather than saying “konnichiwa”.

• Like other greetings during specific times of the day, konbanwa is the standard way of greeting in the evening. You can also greet the konnichiwa, but it is considered less standard.
• The kanji is written as 今晩は. The hiragana is こんばんは.
• The pronunciation of the word konbanwa is kohn-bahn-wah.

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Try saying “oyasumi nasai” to say goodbye to someone for the evening.

• Note that oyasumi nasai is often used to say goodbye like “good night” late at night rather than to say hello with “hello”. You’ll get a weird look if you just met someone late at night and wished them oyasumi nasai .
• When you’re with friends, classmates, close family members, or anyone you can talk to intimately, you can simply say hello as oyasumi .
• The hiragana spelling for oyasumi is おやすみ. The way to write the whole phrase oyasumi nasai in hiragana is おやすみなさい.
• This greeting is pronounced oh-yah-soo-mee nah-sigh.

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Advice

• When in doubt, a 30-degree bend is a fairly safe course of action for most people.
• If you want to be more natural, don’t forget to say hello at specific times of the day. Saying hello to the konnichiwa in the morning or at night will sound rather odd.
• Note: these greetings are applicable throughout Japan and to those who speak Japanese. However, there are other ways of greeting that are only used with certain dialects in Japan. If you want to impress someone who speaks a certain type of Japanese dialect, you can either use the standard greeting above or look for greetings in that particular dialect. ^[4]

In Japanese, the most standard way to say “hello” is to use “konnichiwa”, but there are actually many other ways that Japanese people use when greeting someone. Here are some of the most useful examples with usage notes.

In conclusion, learning how to say hello in Japanese is a great way to initiate conversations and show respect when interacting with Japanese speakers. By understanding the various greetings and using the appropriate one for the specific situation or person, you can effectively communicate and create a positive impression. Additionally, being aware of the cultural nuances and customs associated with greetings in Japan is crucial in building meaningful connections and strengthening relationships. So, whether it’s a simple “konnichiwa” or a more formal “ohayou gozaimasu,” taking the time to learn and practice these greetings will undoubtedly enhance your cultural understanding and enrich your interactions with Japanese individuals.

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