Introduction
When you start learning Japanese, one of the first things you’ll want to master is greetings (あいさつ / aisatsu). Greetings are essential not just for saying hello, but also for expressing politeness, gratitude, and social harmony — all key values in Japanese culture.
In this beginner-friendly guide, you’ll learn:
✔ How to say hello and goodbye in Japanese
✔ Morning, afternoon, and evening greetings
✔ Unique Japanese expressions you won’t find in English
✔ When to use polite vs. casual speech
✔ Situational phrases like before/after meals or leaving the house
Ready to sound like a native from day one? Let’s go!
1. Basic Japanese Greetings
| Japanese | Romaji | English Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| おはよう | Ohayou | Good morning (casual) |
| おはよう ございます | Ohayou gozaimasu | Good morning (polite) |
| こんにちは | Konnichiwa | Good afternoon / Hello |
| こんばんは | Konbanwa | Good evening |
| おやすみ（なさい） | Oyasumi (nasai) | Good night |
| さようなら | Sayounara | Goodbye (formal) |
💡 Usage Tips:
- Use おはよう gozaimasu at school, work, or with strangers. Use おはよう with friends and family.
- こんにちは is used from late morning to around 6 PM.
- こんばんは is used after sunset.
- Japanese rarely say “さようなら” in everyday life. Instead, use:
- またね (“See you”)
- またあした (“See you tomorrow”)
2. Introductions and First Meetings
When meeting someone for the first time, Japanese people follow a simple structure:
Basic Self-Introduction Phrase
はじめまして。___です。よろしく おねがいします。
(Hajimemashite. ___ desu. Yoroshiku onegaishimasu.)
→ “Nice to meet you. I’m ___. I look forward to getting along.”
💡 Phrase Breakdown:
- はじめまして means “This is our first time meeting.”
- よろしく おねがいします is a set phrase that means “Please treat me well” or “I hope we can be friends.”
3. Everyday Courtesy Phrases
Basic Polite Phrases
| Japanese | Romaji | English Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| ありがとう | Arigatou | Thank you (casual) |
| ありがとうございます | Arigatou gozaimasu | Thank you (polite) |
| すみません | Sumimasen | Excuse me / I’m sorry |
| いいえ | Iie | No / Don’t worry |
| どういたしまして | Dou itashimashite | You’re welcome |
💡 Quick Tip:
Use すみません to get attention or politely ask for something, as well as to apologize.
4. Greetings Around the House
There are many unique greetings used in daily life, especially within the home. These are uniquely Japanese and don’t have direct English equivalents.
| Japanese | Romaji | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
| いってきます | Ittekimasu | When you leave home (“I’m off”) |
| いってらっしゃい | Itterasshai | Said to the person leaving home (“Take care”) |
| ただいま | Tadaima | When you come home (“I’m back”) |
| おかえり（なさい） | Okaeri (nasai) | Welcome back |
| いただきます | Itadakimasu | Before eating (“Let’s eat”) |
| ごちそうさま（でした） | Gochisousama (deshita) | After eating (“Thank you for the meal”) |
💡 These greetings reinforce mutual respect and gratitude in everyday life — a beautiful part of Japanese culture!
5. Practice Time!
Try using these expressions in real situations or role-play practice!
🎯 Scenario 1: Morning at School
You see your teacher:
→ おはようございます。 (Ohayou gozaimasu.)
🎯 Scenario 2: Meeting a new classmate
→ はじめまして。わたしはエミリーです。よろしく おねがいします。
(Hajimemashite. Watashiwa Emily desu. Yoroshiku onegaishimasu.)
🎯 Scenario 3: Leaving home in the morning
You say: いってきます。
Your parent replies: いってらっしゃい。
🎯 Scenario 4: After dinner with family
→ ごちそうさまでした。
6. FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions
- QWhen do I use “gozaimasu” with greetings?
- A
Use gozaimasu to be more polite, especially with strangers, teachers, or coworkers.
- おはよう → casual
- おはようございます → polite
- QIs it rude to say “sayounara”?
- A
Not rude, but it’s very final. It’s more common in movies or formal farewells. In daily life, try:
- またね (See you)
- バイバイ (Bye-bye, casual)
- QCan I use “sumimasen” instead of “gomen nasai”?
- A
Yes, but they have slightly different nuances.
- すみません is more formal and often used for small inconveniences or getting attention.
- ごめんなさい is used when you want to sincerely apologize.
- QWhy does “wa” in “konnichiwa” use the kana は (ha)?
- A
Because of a historical sound change in Japanese. The “h” sounds in the middle of words shifted to “w” sounds, but the written form remained the same. It’s a grammatical particle, and that particle is always written as は (ha), even though it’s pronounced わ (wa).
7. Conclusion: Master Japanese Greetings, Master Communication
Learning Japanese greetings is more than just memorizing words — it’s about understanding the culture of respect, harmony, and connection. These simple expressions help you build relationships, show appreciation, and communicate naturally.
📘 Next steps:
- Practice greetings in real conversations
- Write them on flashcards
- Record your voice and compare with native audio
Want to improve your Japanese with real conversations?
Our native Japanese instructors at gokigen japanese can help you perfect your pronunciation and learn real-life usage.
Whether you’re completely new to Japanese or looking to refine your skills, book a one-on-one session.
