Buzz
In Japanese, the most common way to say "hello" is "konnichiwa", but there are many other ways the Japanese greet each other. Here are some of the most useful examples along with important tips for their use.
Steps
Saying a Proper Hello
Use "konnichiwa" in most situations. This greeting is suitable for nearly every context, and if you can only remember one way to greet, this is the one.
- It can be used to greet anyone, regardless of their social status.
- As there are different greetings for different times of the day, this one also means "Good afternoon".
- The kanji for this greeting is 今日は. The hiragana form is こんにちは.
- It is pronounced kohn-nee-chee-wah.
Answer the phone with "moshi moshi". This is the standard way of saying "hello" on the phone.
- Use this greeting whether you are the caller or the receiver. Moshi moshi is more suitable for phone conversations than konnichiwa.
- Do not use moshi moshi in face-to-face conversations.
- The hiragana spelling is もしもし.
- Pronunciation is mohsh mohsh.
Greetings for Casual Situations
Use "ossu" among close male friends. This is a casual greeting used between close male friends or male relatives of the same age.
- This term is not typically used between close female friends or mixed-gender friends.
- Greeting with Ossu is similar to saying “hey, man!” or “hey, dude!” in English.
- The hiragana spelling is おっす.
- Pronunciation is ohss.
In Osaka, people greet each other with "yaho" among friends.
- This greeting is usually written in katakana, as the characters are quite graphic. (ヤーホー)
- Pronunciation is yah-hoh.
- Younger people, especially girls, also use "yaho" to greet their friends.
Ask "saikin dō?" This question is equivalent to "what's up?" or "what's new?" in English.
- Like most casual greetings, you should only use this with familiar people such as friends, siblings, or—sometimes—classmates or coworkers.
- The kanji is 最近どう?. The hiragana form is さいきん どう?.
- Pronunciation is sigh-kin doh.
When greeting someone you haven't seen in a while, use "hisashiburi". In English, the equivalent greeting is often "long time, no see" or "it's been a while."
- You should use this greeting when meeting up with a friend or close family member whom you haven't seen in weeks, months, or even years.
- The kanji is 久しぶり. The hiragana form is ひさしぶり.
- To make the greeting more formal, you can say "o hisashiburi desu ne". The kanji is お久しぶりですね. The hiragana form is 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 way to greet someone but also a sign of respect. This gesture can be performed by both parties, although it is mainly the person greeting who bows.
Understand that bowing as a greeting is akin to shaking hands respectfully. The key point to remember is when to bow in return.
When someone bows to you, make sure to bow back. You should at least bow to the same degree or slightly lower than the person who greeted you. A deeper bow shows more respect, so if the person bowing is of higher social rank or if you don't know them well, try to bow lower than them.
- Generally, you should bow 15 degrees to those you know well and 30 degrees to those you’ve just met or those with a higher social position. A 45-degree bow is rarely used except when meeting someone as high-ranking as a king or prime minister.
- If greeting a close friend, a simple nod is enough. This is the most common bowing gesture.
Bow with your hands by your sides and eyes following the direction you are bowing to. Make sure to bend your body at the waist. Simply lowering your head or leaning your shoulders forward is too casual and may be considered rude.
Greetings for Specific Times of the Day
Switch to "ohayō gozaimasu" in the morning. When greeting someone before lunch, this is the most formal and appropriate greeting.
- Greeting according to the time of day is more emphasized in Japan than in the U.S. While you might casually greet with "konnichiwa" in the morning, most people would greet with "ohayō gozaimasu" instead.
- The kanji for this greeting is お早うございます. The hiragana form is おはようございます.
- You can shorten the morning greeting to "ohayō" when greeting friends or close acquaintances. The kanji is お早う, and the hiragana is おはよう.
- Pronunciation is oh-hah-yoh goh-za-ee-muss.
Say "konbanwa" in the evening. After dinner, you should begin greeting with this phrase instead of "konnichiwa".
- Like other time-specific greetings, konbanwa is the appropriate greeting in the evening. You could still say konnichiwa, but it is considered less formal.
- The kanji is 今晩は. The hiragana form is こんばんは.
- Pronunciation for konbanwa is kohn-bahn-wah.
Try saying "oyasumi nasai" to bid someone good night in the evening.
- Note that oyasumi nasai is typically used for a night-time farewell like “good night” rather than as a greeting. It would be strange to greet someone late in the evening with oyasumi nasai.
- If you're with close friends, family, or anyone you feel comfortable with, you can simply say oyasumi.
- The hiragana for oyasumi is おやすみ. The hiragana for the full phrase oyasumi nasai is おやすみなさい.
- Pronunciation is oh-yah-soo-mee nah-sigh.
Advice
- If you’re uncertain, bowing at a 30-degree angle is a safe and respectful gesture for most people.
- For a more natural approach, don’t forget to greet according to the time of day. Saying "konnichiwa" in the morning or evening may sound a bit strange.
- Note: These greeting norms are applicable throughout Japan and for those who speak Japanese. However, there are other greeting variations specific to certain dialects in Japan. If you want to make an impression on someone who speaks a particular dialect, you can use the formal greetings mentioned or explore greetings from that specific dialect.
