Japanese Greetings: Hello, Thank You, Excuse Me
Basic Japanese greetings: "hello" — こんにちは (konnichiwa), "good morning" — おはようございます (ohayō gozaimasu), "good evening" — こんばんは (konbanwa), "thank you" — ありがとう (arigatō), "goodbye" — さようなら (sayōnara). Below is a table with readings in Russian letters and a pronunciation trainer.
One word said at the right time weighs more than a thousand learned in silence. A Japanese greeting is a small bow with your voice. Say "ohayō" in the morning at the hotel counter, and the day will start warmer than from any two-hundred-page phrasebook.
How to say hello in Japanese?
| When | Japanese | Reading | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daytime | こんにちは | konnichiwa | Hello |
| Morning | おはようございます | ohayō gozaimasu | Good morning |
| Evening | こんばんは | konbanwa | Good evening |
| Gratitude | ありがとうございます | arigatō gozaimasu | Thank you very much |
| Apology | すみません | sumimasen | Excuse me |
| Farewell | さようなら | sayōnara | Goodbye |
| Informal "bye" | じゃあね | jā ne | Well, see you |
How to introduce yourself when meeting someone?
- "Hajimemashite" (はじめまして) — "nice to meet you," said at the beginning.
- "Watashi wa [name] desu" (私は…です) — "I am [name]."
- "Yoroshiku onegai shimasu" (よろしくお願いします) — polite "please treat me well," closes the introduction.
- Accompany with a slight bow — it replaces a handshake.
Why "konnichiwa" is not always appropriate
こんにちは works during the day, roughly from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. In the morning they say おはようございます, in the evening こんばんは, and in the office among colleagues, instead of a greeting, you often hear おつかれさまです — "thank you for your work."
Say the greeting out loud
Speak the phrase into the microphone — AI will evaluate your pronunciation.
Polite little things that people notice
- "Arigatō" is friendly; "arigatō gozaimasu" is polite and safe with strangers.
- "Sumimasen" works both as "excuse me" and "may I?".
- A slight nod of the head is appropriate almost always.
- "Sayōnara" sounds like a long farewell; with friends, "jā ne" or "bye-bye" is more common.
What they do instead of a handshake
They bow: a short bow of about fifteen degrees is a regular greeting, a deeper one shows respect to an elder or a client. A Japanese person will shake your hand if you extend it, but usually won't offer it first.
FAQ
- How do you say "hi" in Japanese?
- Neutrally — "konnichiwa" (こんにちは), during the day. Informally among friends — "yattō" or just "oi" in youth speech, but for strangers, the polite "konnichiwa" is safer.
- How do you say thank you in Japanese?
- "Arigatō" (ありがとう) — thank you; "arigatō gozaimasu" (ありがとうございます) — thank you very much and more polite. In response, they say "dōitashimashite" or just nod.
- How do you apologize in Japanese?
- "Sumimasen" (すみません) — universal "excuse me." "Gomen nasai" (ごめんなさい) — more personal "sorry," appropriate with close people.
- How is "ohayō" different from "konnichiwa"?
- "Ohayō (gozaimasu)" is said in the morning, "konnichiwa" — during the day, "konbanwa" — in the evening. The time of day determines the choice of greeting.
Updated: 2026-06-25