Greetings in Japanese
Japanese greetings are chosen by the clock, not by the person. There is no all-purpose “hello”: ohayou gozaimasu until late morning, konnichiwa through the afternoon, konbanwa after dark. Use the wrong one and nothing bad happens, but you sound like you learned the language from a phrasebook that did not mention it.
The trap is konnichiwa. Textbooks give it as “hello”, so learners use it on colleagues at nine in the morning and on the family they are staying with. Japanese speakers do neither — inside a workplace or a household the morning greeting is ohayou gozaimasu at any hour of the day, including the night shift.
All 14 phrases in this section
Each one has its own page with the kana, the romaji, a literal breakdown of what the words actually say, and a note on when it fits and when it does not.
- Excuse me (to get attention)すみません
- Good eveningこんばんは
- Good morningおはようございます
- Good nightおやすみなさい
- Hello / Good afternoonこんにちは
- How are you?お元気ですか
- I'm backただいま
- I'm fine, thank you元気です、ありがとう
- Long time no seeお久しぶりです
- Nice to meet youはじめまして
- I look forward to it / please treat me wellよろしくお願いします
- Sorry to disturb youお邪魔します
- Welcome backおかえりなさい
- Welcome (said to you in a shop)いらっしゃいませ
The rest of the phrasebook
- Thanks and Politeness感謝13
- Apologies謝罪13
- Yes, No and Understanding返事14
- Introductions自己紹介13
- Small Talk雑談13
- Numbers and Counting数14
- Time and Dates時間13
- Asking Directions道案内14
- Trains and Stations電車15
- Taxis and Busesタクシー13
- Hotels and Ryokan宿14
- Restaurants and Ordering食事16
- Allergies and Food Restrictions食事制限13
- Convenience Stores and Shopping買い物14
- Money and Payment支払い13
- Temples and Sightseeing観光13
- Onsen and Public Baths温泉13
- Health and Pharmacy体調14
- Emergencies緊急14
- Lost Things and Trouble困りごと13
- Phone and Internet通信12
- Weather and Seasons天気13
- Reactions and Compliments相づち13
- Goodbyes別れ13
