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If you want to study Japanese or travel to Japan, one of the most essential Japanese phrases<\/a> to know is hello. <\/em>However, the word hello <\/em>in Japanese varies depending on the time of day and the person you\u2019re greeting. In this article, we\u2019ll cover how to say hello <\/em>in Japanese in a variety of social circumstances. Let\u2019s get started!<\/p>\n Japan has a special word for greetings: \u6328\u62f6<\/a>\uff08\u3042\u3044\u3055\u3064\u3001aisatsu<\/em>\uff09. Japanese people value aisatsu<\/em><\/a> so deeply that aisatsu <\/em>is often described as having its own culture. Posters line school walls to remind students when and how to greet teachers and classmates. The first five minutes of your morning at a Japanese office will inevitably be spent exchanging aisatsu <\/em>with other people. Saying hello <\/em>in Japanese is a vital part of experiencing Japanese culture. Due to the existence of polite and honorific Japanese<\/a>, some who visit Japan might not know which aisatsu <\/em>is best for more polite company. For this purpose, we\u2019ll start with how to say hello<\/em> in polite Japanese.<\/p>\n The basic rules for keeping your Japanese polite are to use the personal pronoun \u79c1\uff08\u308f\u305f\u3057\u3001watashi<\/em>\uff09, utilize the prefixes \u304a\uff08o-<\/em>\uff09and \u5fa1\uff08\u3054\u3001go-<\/em>\uff09, and to finish your sentences with \u3067\u3059\uff08desu<\/em>\uff09. But which hellos <\/em>in Japanese fit in with polite conversation? Here are some polite ways to say hello<\/em> in Japanese.<\/p>\n Everyone has heard the word \u3053\u3093\u306b\u3061\u306f<\/a>\uff08konnichiwa<\/em>\uff09. It\u2019s a standard and polite Japanese greeting, but it isn\u2019t one that can be used around the clock. We\u2019ll talk more about greetings and the time of day later. \u3053\u3093\u306b\u3061\u306f means both hello<\/em> and good afternoon.<\/em><\/p>\n Example:<\/strong><\/p>\n Good afternoon. How are you? \u3053\u3093\u306b\u3061\u306f\u3002\u304a\u5143\u6c17\u3067\u3059\u304b\uff1f \uff08Konnichiwa. O genki desu ka?<\/em>\uff09<\/p>\n The word \u3069\u3046\u3082<\/a>\uff08doumo<\/em>\uff09actually has a variety of meanings. It\u2019s a versatile greeting that can be used at the beginning, end, or middle of a conversation. When used to express hello, <\/em>\u3069\u3046\u3082 is an acceptable and polite greeting for your boss or your coworker.<\/p>\n Example:<\/strong><\/p>\n Boss: Good morning, Mr. Tanaka! \u7530\u4e2d\u541b\uff01\u304a\u306f\u3088\u3046\uff01 \uff08Tanaka-kun! Ohayou!<\/em>\uff09 It might seem odd in English to start a conversation with \u201cIt\u2019s been a while\u201d as opposed to \u201cHello.\u201d However, the Japanese phrase \u304a\u4e45\u3057\u3076\u308a\u3067\u3059<\/a>\uff08o hiashiburi desu<\/em>\uff09can be used to do just that. If you want to use this phrase with a friend, you can drop the o-<\/em> and -desu<\/em> to simply say, \u201cHisashiburi.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n Example:<\/strong><\/p>\n Speaking to a superior: \u304a\u4e45\u3057\u3076\u308a\u3067\u3059\u3002 \uff08O hisashiburi desu.<\/em>\uff09 The phrase \u3054\u7121\u6c99\u6c70\u3067\u3059<\/a>\uff08\u3054\u3076\u3055\u305f\u3067\u3059\u3001go busata desu<\/em>\uff09has the same nuance as o hisashiburi desu<\/em> does, but on a slightly more polite level of Japanese. While o hisashiburi desu<\/em> implies that you haven\u2019t met in a while, go busata desu <\/em>implies that you haven\u2019t been in contact, either. Again, it\u2019s normal in Japanese to use this sort of phrase as a form of hello<\/em>. However, be sure not to use it with your friends; this is a polite style of Japanese.<\/p>\n Example:<\/strong><\/p>\n We haven\u2019t spoken in a while. Are you still in Tokyo? \u3054\u3076\u3055\u305f\u3067\u3059\u3002\u307e\u3060\u6771\u4eac\u306b\u3044\u3089\u3063\u3057\u3083\u3044\u307e\u3059\u304b\uff1f \uff08Go busata desu. Mada Tokyo ni irasshaimasu ka?<\/em>\uff09<\/p>\n It\u2019s good manners in any language to ask someone how they\u2019re doing when you start a conversation. In Japanese, the way to ask How are you? <\/em>is \u304a\u5143\u6c17\u3067\u3059\u304b\uff1f<\/a>\uff08o genki desu ka?<\/em>\uff09. It\u2019s fine to say konnichiwa<\/em> or another greeting before asking this question. It\u2019s also acceptable to simply greet you friend or coworker by asking if they\u2019re well. In a less formal situation, you can simply ask, \u5143\u6c17\u3067\u3059\u304b\uff08genki desu ka<\/em>\uff09or \u5143\u6c17\uff08genki<\/em>\uff09?<\/p>\n Examples:<\/strong><\/p>\n Greeting an acquaintance: Are you well? \u304a\u5143\u6c17\u3067\u3059\u304b\uff1f \uff08O genki desu ka?<\/em>\uff09 If you want to politely inquire about how someone has been<\/em>, the phrase \u3044\u304b\u304c\u304a\u904e\u3054\u3057\u3067\u3059\u304b\uff08ikaga o sugoshi desu ka<\/em>\uff09is a decently acceptable greeting. It literally means, \u201cHow have you been spending (the time)?\u201d This is a very formal phrase, more often used in written Japanese than in spoken. If you\u2019re writing an e-mail and aren\u2019t sure how to say hello<\/em>, \u3044\u304b\u304c\u304a\u904e\u3054\u3057\u3067\u3059\u304b is a great choice.<\/p>\n Example:<\/strong><\/p>\n How have you been? I am writing to you from Hawaii. \u3044\u304b\u304c\u304a\u904e\u3054\u3057\u3067\u3059\u304b\uff1f\u4eca\u3001\u79c1\u306f\u30cf\u30ef\u30a4\u306b\u3044\u307e\u3059\u3002 \uff08Ikaga o sugoshi desu ka? Ima, watashi wa Hawaii ni imasu.<\/em>\uff09<\/p>\n Now that we\u2019ve explored the polite ways to say hello<\/em> in Japanese, let\u2019s look at some of the informal or slang words for hello<\/em> in Japanese. Try to remember the unspoken rules of \u5185\u5916<\/a>\uff08uchi soto<\/em>\uff09, or inner and outer social circles, when using these greetings. It would be considered rude to use casual greetings on someone who is older than you or who doesn\u2019t know you very well.<\/p>\n The word \u30cf\u30ed\u30fc<\/a>\uff08haroo<\/em>\uff09is simply Japan\u2019s take on the English word hello<\/em>. If you look remotely foreign, Japanese children will often shout this greeting to you. Young children in Japan assume that all foreigners speak English.<\/p>\n Example:<\/strong><\/p>\n Hello, John-sensei! \u30b8\u30e7\u30f3\u5148\u751f\uff01\u30cf\u30ed\u30fc\uff01 \uff08Jon-sensei! Haroo<\/em>!\uff09<\/p>\n The phrase \u3069\u3046\u3088\uff08dou yo<\/em>\uff09is a colloquial abbreviation of \u3069\u3046\u3067\u3059\u304b<\/a>\uff08dou desu ka<\/em>\uff09. It means, \u201cHow are things?\u201d or \u201cHow\u2019s it going?\u201d This phrase is often used among friends on the phone or in passing.<\/p>\n Example:<\/strong><\/p>\n How\u2019s it going? Are you free tonight? \u3069\u3046\u3088\u3002\u4eca\u591c\u3001\u6687\u3067\u3059\u304b\uff1f \uff08Dou yo. Konya, hima desu ka?<\/em>\uff09<\/p>\n Cute and friendly in its nuance, the word \u30e4\u30c3\u30db\u30fc\uff08yahoo<\/em>\uff09is often used by young people. Some might consider it to sound a bit feminine, as many high school girls use it with their friends. \u30e4\u30c3\u30db\u30fchas the same feel as the English slang words Yoohoo! <\/em>Or Hiya!<\/em><\/p>\n Example:<\/strong><\/p>\n Yoohoo! Are you ready for today\u2019s test? \u30e4\u30c3\u30db\u30fc\uff01\u4eca\u65e5\u306e\u30c6\u30b9\u30c8\u3001\u6e96\u5099\u3067\u304d\u305f\uff1f \uff08Yahoo! Kyou no tesuto, junbi dekita?<\/em>\uff09<\/p>\n On the other side of the spectrum from \u30e4\u30c3\u30db\u30fc\u3001the greeting \u304a\u3046\uff08ou<\/em>\uff09is used more by young men. A high school sports club might be filled with the sound of boys saying \u304a\u3046\uff01to each other before the game begins.<\/p>\n Example<\/strong>:<\/p>\n Hey! Doin\u2019 alright? \u304a\u3046\uff01\u5143\u6c17\u304b\uff1f \uff08Ou! Genki ka?<\/em>\uff09<\/p>\n This is another strictly masculine informal greeting. More sound than word, \u304a\u3063\u3059\uff08ossu<\/em>\uff09, \u3046\u3063\u3059\uff08ussu<\/em>\uff09, or \u3061\u30fc\u3063\u3059\uff08chiissu<\/em>\uff09 are often accompanied by a bobbing of the head or a high five.<\/p>\n Example:<\/strong><\/p>\n Yo. How was the date? \u304a\u3063\u3059\u3002\u30c7\u30fc\u30c8\u3001\u3069\u3046\u3060\u3063\u305f\u304b\uff1f \uff08Ossu. Deeto, dou datta ka?<\/em>\uff09<\/p>\n The phrase \u6700\u8fd1\u3069\u3046\uff08saikin dou<\/em>\uff09is an informal version of \u3044\u304b\u304c\u304a\u904e\u3054\u3057\u3067\u3059\u304b\uff08ikaga o sugoshi desu ka<\/em>\uff09. It can, however, be made more polite by expanding the phrase to: \u6700\u8fd1\u3069\u3046\u3067\u3059\u304b\uff08saikin dou desu ka<\/em>\uff09?<\/p>\n Examples:<\/strong><\/p>\n Casual: How\u2019s it been? Nice haircut. \u6700\u8fd1\u3069\u3046\uff1f\u9aea\u578b\u304b\u3063\u3053\u3044\u3044\uff01 \uff08Saikin dou? Kamigata kakkoii!<\/em>\uff09 As we mentioned earlier, how you say hello<\/em> in Japanese depends on situations like time or company. We\u2019ll wrap this article up with a few greetings in Japanese that depend heavily on the time of day or the company that you\u2019re in.<\/p>\n The greeting \u304a\u306f\u3088\u3046\u3054\u3056\u3044\u307e\u3059<\/a>\uff08ohayou gozaimasu<\/em>\uff09can only <\/em>be used between around 5 a.m. and 11 a.m. It is a very <\/em>important greeting for anyone going to work or to school. People who don\u2019t say \u201cgood morning\u201d when entering the school or workplace in Japan are considered rude.<\/p>\n That said, if you\u2019re saying good morning<\/em> to a teacher or to your boss, you would say the full phrase: \u304a\u306f\u3088\u3046\u3054\u3056\u3044\u307e\u3059. If you\u2019re greeting a friend, family member, or someone of the same age, you can shorten the phrase: \u304a\u306f\u3088\u3046\uff08ohayou<\/em>\uff09.<\/p>\n Examples:<\/strong><\/p>\n Greeting someone politely: Good morning! \u304a\u306f\u3088\u3046\u3054\u3056\u3044\u307e\u3059\uff01 \uff08Ohayou gozaimasu!<\/em>\uff09 In the morning, hello<\/em> in Japanese is \u304a\u306f\u3088\u3046\u3054\u3056\u3044\u307e\u3059\uff08ohayou gozaimasu<\/em>\uff09. In the afternoon, hello<\/em> in Japanese is \u3053\u3093\u306b\u3061\u306f\uff08konnichiwa<\/em>\uff09. From around 5 p.m. till when the sun rises, the proper way to say hello<\/em> in Japanese is \u3053\u3093\u3070\u3093\u306f<\/a>\uff08konbanwa<\/em>\uff09. Like konnichiwa, <\/em>the word konbanwa<\/em> is already acceptably polite. It has no casual form.<\/p>\n Example:<\/strong><\/p>\n Good evening. It\u2019s chilly tonight, isn\u2019t it? \u3053\u3093\u3070\u3093\u306f\u3002\u5bd2\u3044\u3067\u3059\u306d\u3002 \uff08Konbanwa. Samui desu ne.<\/em>\uff09<\/p>\n If you\u2019re meeting someone for the first time in Japanese, \u306f\u3058\u3081\u307e\u3057\u3066<\/a>\uff08hajimemashite<\/em>\uff09is a good way to say hello<\/em>. It means \u201cgood day\u201d or \u201cnice to meet you.\u201d Hajimemashite<\/em> is polite Japanese and has no casual form.<\/p>\n Example:<\/strong><\/p>\n Nice to meet you. My name is Tom. \u306f\u3058\u3081\u307e\u3057\u3066\u3002\u30c8\u30e0\u3068\u7533\u3057\u307e\u3059\u3002 \uff08Hajimemashite. Tomu to moushimasu<\/em>.\uff09<\/p>\n The greeting phrase \u3044\u3089\u3063\u3057\u3083\u3044\u307e\u305b<\/a>\uff08irasshaimase<\/em>\uff09is a staple in Japanese customer service. Clerks, waiters, and other workers in the service industry use irasshaimase<\/em> to welcome their guests. You would use this phrase if you were working at a store or at a restaurant. If you work in the Japanese service industry, be sure to wear a big smile and speak in a cheerful, welcoming tone.<\/p>\n Example:<\/strong><\/p>\n Welcome! What would you like to drink? \u3044\u3089\u3063\u3057\u3083\u3044\u307e\u305b\uff01\u304a\u98f2\u307f\u7269\u306f\u3044\u304b\u304c\u3067\u3057\u3087\u3046\u304b\uff1f \uff08Irasshaimase! O nomi mono wa ikaga deshou ka?<\/em>\uff09<\/p>\nJapanese Greeting Culture<\/h2>\n
Saying Hello<\/em> in Polite Japanese<\/h2>\n
\u3053\u3093\u306b\u3061\u306f\uff08konnichiwa<\/em>\uff09- Hello. \/ Good afternoon.<\/h3>\n
\u3069\u3046\u3082\uff08doumo<\/em>\uff09\u2013 How do you do?<\/h3>\n
\nTanaka: How do you do, Boss? \u3069\u3046\u3082\u3002 \uff08Doumo<\/em>.\uff09<\/p>\n\u304a\u4e45\u3057\u3076\u308a\u3067\u3059\uff08o hisashiburi desu<\/em>\uff09\u2013 It\u2019s been a long time.<\/h3>\n
\nSpeaking to a friend: \u4e45\u3057\u3076\u308a\uff01 \uff08Hisashiburi!<\/em>\uff09<\/p>\n\u3054\u7121\u6c99\u6c70\u3067\u3059\uff08go busata desu<\/em>\uff09\u2013 We haven\u2019t spoken in a while.<\/h3>\n
\u304a\u5143\u6c17\u3067\u3059\u304b\uff1f\uff08o genki desu ka<\/em>\uff09\u2013 Are you well?<\/h3>\n
\nGreeting a friend: Hi! Are you doing well? \u3088\uff01\u5143\u6c17\uff1f \uff08Yo! Genki?<\/em>\uff09<\/p>\n\u3044\u304b\u304c\u304a\u904e\u3054\u3057\u3067\u3059\u304b\uff1f\uff08ikaga o sugoshi desu ka<\/em>\uff09- How have you been?<\/h3>\n
Saying Hello <\/em>in Casual Japanese<\/h2>\n
\u30cf\u30ed\u30fc\uff08haroo<\/em>\uff09\u2013 Hello<\/h3>\n
\u3069\u3046\u3088\uff1f\uff08dou yo<\/em>\uff09- How\u2019s it going?<\/h3>\n
\u30e4\u30c3\u30db\u30fc\uff08yahoo<\/em>\uff09\u2013 Yoohoo \/ Hiya<\/h3>\n
\u304a\u3046\uff01\uff08Ou<\/em>\uff09\u2013 Hey!<\/h3>\n
\u304a\u3063\u3059\u30fb\u3046\u3063\u3059\u30fb\u3061\u30fc\u3063\u3059\uff08ossu\/ussu\/chiissu<\/em>\uff09\u2013 Yo<\/h3>\n
\u6700\u8fd1\u3069\u3046\uff1f\uff08saikin dou<\/em>\uff09\u2013 How\u2019s it been?<\/h3>\n
\nPolite: How have things been? Your haircut suits you. \u6700\u8fd1\u3069\u3046\u3067\u3059\u304b\uff1f\u9aea\u578b\u3001\u4f3c\u5408\u3044\u307e\u3059\u306d\u3002 \uff08Saikin dou desu ka? Kamigata, niaimasu ne.<\/em>\uff09<\/p>\nSituational Greetings in Japanese<\/h2>\n
\u304a\u306f\u3088\u3046\u3054\u3056\u3044\u307e\u3059\uff08ohayou gozaimasu<\/em>\uff09\u2013 Good morning.<\/h3>\n
\nGreeting a friend or family member: \u2018Morning! \u304a\u306f\u3088\u3046\uff01 \uff08Ohayou!<\/em>\uff09<\/p>\n\u3053\u3093\u3070\u3093\u306f\uff08konbanwa<\/em>\uff09\u2013 Good evening.<\/h3>\n
\u306f\u3058\u3081\u307e\u3057\u3066\uff08hajimemashite<\/em>\uff09\u2013 Nice to meet you.<\/h3>\n
\u3044\u3089\u3063\u3057\u3083\u3044\u307e\u305b\uff01\uff08irasshaimase<\/em>\uff09\u2013 Welcome!<\/h3>\n
\u3082\u3057\u3082\u3057\uff08moshi moshi<\/em>\uff09\u2013 Hello.<\/h3>\n
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