To start any conversation on the right foot, you need the right greeting for the situation. Saying “Hey! What’s up?” to friends and family is normal, but maybe less than ideal for your boss. Likewise, a formal handshake with your mother may not be the most natural gesture. When speaking Japanese, having an understanding of etiquette and appropriate Japanese greetings is essential.
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Know your etiquette: Saying hello in Japanese
Before we dive into words, let’s take a look at body language and timing—which can both be just as important as the words themselves. While there are dozens of intricacies behind Japanese etiquette, there are a few key points to keep in mind.
Bowing is the simplest! It is an extremely versatile gesture that can be used in almost any situation. Rather than a handshake, it is polite to bow when greeting someone. Even a little head bob is sufficient in casual situations. For formal interactions, a slight bend at the waist with your hands resting on your thighs is more appropriate. It is also worth noting that bowing with palms pressed together in front of your chest is not done in Japan. Close physical contact, including hugging and kissing, is also a firm no.
In some places, such as in homes or schools, shoes are removed at the door and exchanged for slippers. If you see a shelf with shoes lined up or a recessed foyer with shoes on the lower section, there is a good chance that you are expected to remove yours. Be aware of your surroundings and don’t be afraid to ask the people around you if you are unsure.
Before you say a single word, being punctual makes the best first impression. Timeliness is important in Japanese culture, meaning tardiness is frowned upon. Even the trains famously arrive at the scheduled time, with apologies offered for any delay. When meeting with someone new, arriving early to a meeting is even better.
>> Review our primer on Japanese honorifics to avoid etiquette faux-pas!
13 Japanese greetings for every situation
The Japanese word for “greeting” is “aisatsu” (挨拶), and it encompasses everything from the simplest hello to the most formal goodbye. Many of the greetings below have grammar components that are easily omitted or changed to make a greeting formal or casual, but the most common variants are listed.
1. Konnichiwa (こんにちは)
Pronunciation: kohn-nee-chee-wah
Level of formality: Formal
This is the most generic, polite way to say “hello” to everyone from a stranger to a friend. It can also be interpreted as “good afternoon,” so it is most appropriately used from midday to the late afternoon.
If you can read the hiragana (平仮名) characters for this word, the last letter may stand out. Rather than a wa (わ), it is written with the letter ha (は). This is because the letter ha is pronounced as wa when following the topic of a sentence. “Konnichiwa” literally means “as for today,” and was once used as part of a longer sentence when starting a conversation. In modern Japanese, it stands alone as a greeting, but the grammatical ha (pronounced wa) remains.
>> Master Japanese pronunciation with our complete guide to vowels, contracted sounds, and more.
2. Ohayō gozaimasu (おはようございます)
Pronunciation: oh-ha-yoh goh-zah-ee-mahs
Level of formality: Formal
When greeting someone before noon, a “good morning” is the way to go. This can be used by anyone and for anyone, but it can also be shortened to ohayō for a casual greeting. Be careful not to pronounce it exactly like the US state “Ohio,” although it is similar.
The gozaimasu at the end of this phrase can be found in several other greetings as well. Literally, the word is a formal version of “to exist.” Practically speaking, it adds an extra layer of politeness to the expression.
3. Konbanwa (こんばんは)
Pronunciation: kohn-bahn-wah
Level of formality: Formal
When greeting someone after sunset, we say “good evening.” Just like konnichiwa, the last letter of konbanwa is written with the letter ha (は) rather than wa (わ). In this case, “konbanwa” literally means “as for tonight!” This is generally a more formal greeting and does not necessarily need to be used with close acquaintances.
4. Oyasuminasai (おやすみなさい)
Pronunciation: oh-yah-soo-mee-nah-sah-ee
Level of formality: Formal
Ready to say “good night” at the end of the day? Oyasuminasai has you covered. The ending ~nasai is a grammar structure for giving gentle commands. Literally, this phrase translates to “Please go rest.” To make it casual, just drop ~nasai and simply say, “Oyasumi!” for a shortened version.
5. Sayōnara (さようなら)
Pronunciation: sah-yoh-nah-rah
Level of formality: Formal
The Japanese word for “goodbye” is fairly well known, but did you know that it is actually rarely used? Sayōnara carries an implication that you don’t expect to see the person you are talking to again for a long time, if at all. Instead, there are several context-based expressions to use at partings.
In a formal situation, such as with coworkers, it is more natural to say one of the following:
| Japanese | Romanization | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| お先に失礼します！ | Osaki ni shitsurei shimasu | oh-sah-kee nee shee-tsoo-reh-ee shee-mahs |
Please excuse me for leaving first! |
| お疲れ様でした！ | Otsukaresama deshita | oh-tsoo-kah-reh sah-mah deh-shee-tah |
Good work today! |
6. Mata ne (またね)
Pronunciation: mah-tah neh
Level of formality: Casual
When saying goodbye to friends, use mata ne to say, “See you later!” The similar jaa ne (じゃあね) or jaa mata (じゃあまた) can also be exchanged to convey the same meaning.
The word “mata” means “again,” so the word that follows it can be replaced with the time you expect to see the person. For example, “Mata ashita” means “See you tomorrow.” Try combining mata with some of these time words for versatility:
| Japanese | Romanization | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 来週 | Raishuu | rah-ee-shoo | next week |
| 月曜日 | Getsuyōbi | geh-tsoo-yoh-bee | Monday |
| 今晩 | Konban | kohn-bahn | tonight |
>> Learn conversational Japanese for ordering food, navigating public transportation, and more!
7. Hisashiburi (久しぶり)
Pronunciation: hee-sah-shee-boo-ree
Level of formality: Casual
After not seeing someone for a long time, you might say “Long time no see!” Hisashiburi is the most casual way to say this, but you can also add the polite prefix “o-” to the beginning to make the slightly more formal ohisashiburi. You can also go even further and add the “to be” verb desu (です) to the end to make ohisashiburi desu. This is more akin to “it has been a long time,” and can be reserved for people you may not know well or want to show respect to, such as a boss.
8. Arigatō gozaimasu (ありがとうございます)
Pronunciation: ah-ree-gah-toh goh-zah-ee-mahs
Level of formality: Formal
Always remember to express gratitude with a “thank you.” Just like with “ohayō,” the gozaimasu can be dropped to make a casual “arigatō” for friends and family. A few other variations include:
| Japanese | Romanization | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| どうもありがとう ございます！ |
Dōmo arigatō gozaimasu | doh-moh ah-ree-gah-toh goh-zah-ee-mahs |
Thank you very much! |
| 本当にありがとう ございます！ |
Hontō ni arigatō gozaimasu | hohn-toh nee ah-ree-gah-toh goh-zah-ee-mahs |
Really, thank you so much! |
| ありがとう ございました！ |
Arigatō gozaimashita | ah-ree-gah-toh goh-zah-ee-mahsh-tah |
Thank you! (This is used specifically for a favor or other action that has already been completed.) |
9. Sumimasen (すみません)
Pronunciation: soo-mee-mah-sehn
Level of formality: Formal
Sumimasen, the Japanese phrase for “excuse me,” is a versatile greeting in everyday life. You can use it when you accidentally bump into someone on a crowded subway or when you’re trying to get someone’s attention. In restaurants, it’s common for customers to call for their waiter by calling them with “Sumimasen!” when they need service rather than waiting for the staff to come to them.
This can even be used in place of a “hello” in certain situations. For instance, it would be polite to use sumimasen to say, “Excuse me, where is Shinjuku Station?” if you needed to ask someone for directions.
10. Hajimemashite (初めまして)
Pronunciation: hah-jee-meh-mah-shee-teh
Level of formality: Casual
Use hajimemashite to say “Nice to meet you!” This is typically reserved for more casual interactions, such as when being introduced to a friend of a friend or other peers in social situations. Offering your name at this juncture is also a good idea. Just say your name followed by the “to be” verb, desu.
Hajimemashite can also be translated as “how do you do?” but this is a rather formal interpretation. The literal translation is “This is the first time [we are meeting],” which is the primary purpose of the phrase.
11. Yoroshiku onegaishimasu (よろしくお願いします)
Pronunciation: yoh-roh-shee-koo oh-neh-gah-ee-shee-mahs
Level of formality: Formal
Yoroshiku onegaishimasu has a wide variety of meanings depending on context, but it is almost always accompanied with a polite bow. It roughly translates to “please treat me well,” but its general use is to express hopeful and positive emotions toward a new interaction or relationship. Here are a few situations where it might be used and what the implied meaning would be:
- Meeting someone for the first time: “It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance and I hope we will have a good relationship.”
- First day at work or school: “I look forward to working together and hope we will get along here.”
- Requesting a favor: “Thank you in advance, and I appreciate you helping me.”
- Starting a speech or presentation: “Thank you for listening and I hope we understand one another.”
If the situation is casual and among friends, a shortened “Yoroshiku!” will work just as well.
12. Ittekimasu (行ってきます) and itterasshai (行ってらっしゃい)
Pronunciation: ee-teh-kee-mahs and ee-teh-rah-shah-ee
Level of formality: Formal
These words accompany each other as a call-and-response when someone is heading out. Ittekimasu literally means “I will go and come back,” while itterasshasi means “please go and come back.” In context, it is more like “I’m heading out” and “come back soon.” This can be used when one person is leaving the house for school or work, with the person leaving saying ittekimasu and the person staying at home saying itterasshai.
You can hear these words in more short-term contexts as well. If a person leaves their desk at work for a meeting, they might tell their nearby coworkers “ittekimasu.”
13. Tadaima (ただいま) and okaerinasai (お帰りなさい)
Pronunciation: tah-dah-ee-mah and oh-kah-eh-ree-nah-sah-ee
Level of formality: Formal
When returning home, you say tadaima for “I’m back!” to receive a response of okaerinasai, or “Welcome back!” Just like the previous words used for leaving, these terms can also be used when returning to your desk or classroom after a short time away.
“Tadaima” literally means “right now,” as in “you have returned just now,” while “okaerinasai” means something akin to “you have returned.” In more casual interactions, such as between friends or family, okaerinasai can be shortened to okaeri.
Say konnichiwa to learning Japanese with Rosetta Stone!
Knowing the words is half the battle, and now you can put them into practice! Want to take your Japanese knowledge beyond one-off phrases? Take advantage of our Dynamic Immersion method to learn Japanese in context rather than by flashcards and rote memorization.
Rosetta Stone’s TruAccent speech-recognition engine is the perfect solution to fine-tune your pronunciation of these new expressions. Based on data from real native speakers, it listens to you speak and provides immediate feedback from the first lesson. Greet the world in Japanese with confidence!
Written by Alexa Bevan
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