Have you ever considered what the difference is between “hello” and “hi” in English? Usually, the more appropriate word depends on who you’re talking to. It’s the same when saying “hello” in Japanese, where you might think konnichiwa is the most common option. In reality, it’s more likely that the optimal greeting will be one of the more precise Japanese greetings (like those that mean “good morning” or “long time no see”), but knowing how to say “hello” in Japanese is essential for starting conversations.
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Formal ways to say ‘hello’ in Japanese
You need two main words to say “hello” formally in Japanese: konnichiwa (こんにちは) and moshimoshi (もしもし).
Konnichiwa (Hello)
The most common translation for “hello” in Japanese is konnichiwa.
- Konnichiwa. Onamae wa?（こんにちは。お名前は？）= Hello. What is your name?
Although it’s usually written in hiragana in modern Japanese, konnichiwa can also be written in kanji: 今日は. The word is divided into the word for “this day” or “today” (konnichi or kyō) and the Japanese particle for the topic of a sentence, wa (は). That means it literally translates to “as for today.”
When you hear it now, konnichiwa meaning “hello” is the most common modern translation, but it can also be interpreted as “good afternoon.” That’s why, generally speaking, you should also learn other Japanese greetings that are appropriate at different times of day, such as konbanwa (こんばんは or 今晩は) for “good evening.” Similarly to konnichiwa, konbanwa literally translates to “as for this evening.”
Moshimoshi (Hello)
Moshimoshi has one specific use: saying hello at the start of a phone call. That goes for both the person making the call and the person answering the phone.
- Moshimoshi.（もしもし。）= Hello?
- Moshimoshi. Sumisu san desu ka.（もしもし。スミスさんですか。）= Hello. Is this Mr. Smith?
This word comes from the verb mōsu (申す), which is the humble version of “to say.” The expression used to be mōsu mōsu when phone communication first started in Japan, with the intended meaning being “I am going to start speaking.” The confirmation from telephone operators was important when the sound quality over the phone was poor.
Regional versions of ‘hello’ in Japanese
In addition to the ways to say “hello” in standard Japanese, you might also hear a few regional phrases depending on where you are in Japan. If you’re in a region where one of the many Japanese dialects is spoken, these words could be used instead of konnichiwa.
| Japanese | Romanization | Pronunciation | Region |
| まいど | maido | mah-ee-doh | Western Japan (particularly Osaka and Kyoto prefectures) |
| いあんばい | ianbai | ee-ahn-bah-ee | Fukuoka prefecture |
| こんちくわー | konchikuwā | kohn-chee-koo-wah | Shiga prefecture |
| こんちゃら | konchara | kohn-chah-rah | Kagoshima prefecture |
| ハイサイ | haisai | hah-ee-sah-ee | Used by men; Okinawa prefecture and surrounding islands |
| ハイタイ | haitai | hah-ee-tah-ee | Used by women; Okinawa prefecture and surrounding islands |
Casual ways to say ‘hello’ in Japanese
The standard konnichiwa is rarely used to say “hello” between friends, so you’ll need a few casual options. Use these words to say something closer to “hi” or “hey” in Japanese.
Dōmo (Hi)
Dōmo is one word that carries a lot of meaning, including “hi” in Japanese.
- Dōmo, Yuki.（どうも、ゆき。）= Hi, Yuki.
You might recognize dōmo as one of the ways to say “Thank you” in Japanese. It’s also an adverb that means “quite” or “very.” Keep these various meanings in mind when you hear it so you know if dōmo is being used to say “hi,” “thanks,” or in the middle of a sentence to add weight to an adjective.
Yā (Hey)
Yā (やあ) is perfect for an easy greeting to your friends. You can also say it twice to be more playful.
- Yā yā, minna!（やあやあ、みんな！）= Hey hey, everyone!
- Yā, Tarō kun.（やあ、たろうくん。）= Hey, Tarō.
Slang ways to say ‘hello’ in Japanese
Among friends, you can also use Japanese slang expressions for “hello” in Japanese. After all, how often do you actually use “hello” with friends when you can say “hi” or “hey” instead?
All of these words can also be written in katakana, the Japanese writing system typically reserved for foreign words. Using katakana instead of hiragana gives the word an “edgier” nuance.
| Japanese | Romanization | Pronunciation | Meaning |
| へい | hei | heh-ee | hey |
| よお | yō | yoh | yo |
| やっほー | yahhō | yah-hoh | yoo-hoo (mostly feminine) |
| おす | osu | ohs | yo (mostly masculine) |
| おい | oi | oh-ee | hey (mostly masculine) |
| こんちわっす | konchiwassu | kohn-chee-wahs-soo | heya |
| ちわ | chiwa | chee-wah | ‘lo |
Just like English speakers may playfully say “hello” in different languages, people who speak Japanese do the same! Here are a few examples:
- harō (ハロー): English “hello”
- annyonhaseyo (アンニョンハセヨ): Korean “annyeonghaseyo”
- nīhao (ニーハオ): Chinese “nǐ hǎo”
- gūtentāku (グーテンターク): German “Guten Tag”
Three things to remember when saying ‘hello’ in Japanese
Greetings in Japanese go beyond the expressions themselves, whether you’re saying “hello” or “goodbye” in Japanese.
- If the conversation is formal, remember to use Japanese honorifics. When in doubt, call someone by their last name with the respectful suffix san (さん). You can forgo honorifics or use friendly suffixes like kun (くん) in a casual conversation.
- Greetings are usually accompanied by a bow. Depending on the social situation, the rules surrounding bowing in Japan differ. In general, you should always at least incline your head or bow slightly at the waist (about 15 degrees) when saying hello. Among friends, waving is also common.
- Mastering your Japanese pronunciation goes a long way! Making sure your vowels, in particular, are consistent will make your “hello” in Japanese sound crisp, clear, and welcoming.
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