Japanese Greetings: Complete Guide with Audio-Friendly Pronunciations
Japanese greetings are more context-sensitive than English ones. There is no single "hello" — the correct greeting depends on the time of day, your relationship with the person, and the social situation. This guide covers every essential greeting with the formal and casual versions and exactly when to use each.
Time-Based Greetings
おはようございます
RomajiOhayou gozaimasu
MeaningGood morning (formal)
Casual formおはよう (Ohayou)
When to useUsed until around 10 AM. The casual form is used with friends, family, and close colleagues.
こんにちは
RomajiKonnichiwa
MeaningGood afternoon / Hello
When to useUsed roughly 10 AM–5 PM. Note: written with は (wa particle) not わ.
こんばんは
RomajiKonbanwa
MeaningGood evening
When to useUsed from around 5 PM onward. Also written with は as the particle は.
おやすみなさい
RomajiOyasumi nasai
MeaningGood night
Casual formおやすみ (Oyasumi)
When to useSaid when going to sleep or parting at night. Not a general evening greeting — only used when actually going to sleep.
Meeting People
はじめまして
RomajiHajimemashite
MeaningNice to meet you (first meeting)
When to useOnly used when meeting someone for the very first time. Always followed by your name and どうぞよろしく.
よろしくお願いします
RomajiYoroshiku onegai shimasu
MeaningPlease treat me well / I look forward to working with you
Casual formよろしく (Yoroshiku)
When to useSaid after introducing yourself, or when starting any new relationship or project. One of the most important phrases in Japanese.
お元気ですか
RomajiOgenki desu ka
MeaningHow are you?
Casual form元気？(Genki?)
When to useLess common in daily Japanese than "how are you" is in English — usually said to someone you haven't seen in a while.
おかげさまで
RomajiOkagesama de
MeaningThanks to you (I'm doing well)
When to useThe culturally appropriate response to お元気ですか. Expresses gratitude and humility — "I'm well, thanks to your blessings."
Parting
さようなら
RomajiSayounara
MeaningGoodbye (final / long separation)
When to useImplies a long or permanent separation. Not used for everyday goodbyes with people you see regularly. More common in formal or dramatic contexts.
またね / またあとで
RomajiMata ne / Mata ato de
MeaningSee you later / See you soon
Casual formまたな (male casual)
When to useThe everyday goodbye for people you will see again soon. またね is universally casual and friendly.
じゃあね / じゃあ
RomajiJaa ne / Jaa
MeaningWell then, bye
When to useExtremely common casual farewell, equivalent to "alright, bye" or "later". Common among friends and peers.
いってきます / いってらっしゃい
RomajiIttekimasu / Itterasshai
MeaningI'm going (and will return) / Go and come back safely
When to useSaid when leaving home: いってきます by the person leaving, いってらっしゃい by the person staying. A deeply ingrained cultural exchange.
Thanks and Apologies
ありがとうございます
RomajiArigatou gozaimasu
MeaningThank you (formal)
Casual formありがとう (Arigatou)
When to useThe standard thank-you. Add ございます for formality. どうも (doumo) is a very casual, minimal thanks.
すみません
RomajiSumimasen
MeaningExcuse me / I'm sorry / Thank you (for your trouble)
Casual formすまない (Sumanai, male)
When to useThe most versatile polite expression. Use to get attention, apologise for minor inconveniences, or thank someone who went out of their way.
ごめんなさい
RomajiGomennasai
MeaningI'm sorry (genuine apology)
Casual formごめん (Gomen)
When to useA real apology for something you did wrong. More emotional weight than すみません. Use when you have genuinely caused trouble.
もうしわけありません
RomajiMoushiwake arimasen
MeaningI have no excuse (deepest apology)
When to useThe most formal and sincere apology. Used in business and formal situations when a serious mistake has been made.
Social and Dining Greetings
いただきます
RomajiItadakimasu
MeaningI humbly receive (before eating)
When to useSaid before every meal. Expresses gratitude for the food and those who prepared it. Never skipped in polite company.
ごちそうさまでした
RomajiGochisousama deshita
MeaningIt was a feast / Thank you for the meal
Casual formごちそうさま (Gochisousama)
When to useSaid after finishing a meal. Both to the person who cooked and (in restaurants) to the staff. Always appreciated.
おじゃまします
RomajiOjama shimasu
MeaningExcuse me for intruding (entering someone's home)
When to useSaid when entering someone else's home. Literally "I will disturb you" — acknowledges that you are entering their private space.
おめでとうございます
RomajiOmedetou gozaimasu
MeaningCongratulations
Casual formおめでとう (Omedetou)
When to useFor birthdays, new year, promotions, weddings, graduations. あけましておめでとうございます is the New Year greeting.
Business Greetings
よろしくお願いいたします
RomajiYoroshiku onegai itashimasu
MeaningI look forward to working with you (ultra-formal)
Casual formよろしく (Yoroshiku)
When to useThe most formal version of よろしく, using the humble いたします form. Used in business emails and formal meetings.
お疲れ様です
RomajiOtsukaresama desu
MeaningThank you for your hard work
Casual formお疲れ (Otsukare)
When to useSaid to colleagues at the end of the workday or after completing a task. Can also serve as a greeting when passing colleagues. One of the most frequently used phrases in Japanese offices.
お世話になっております
RomajiOsewa ni natte orimasu
MeaningThank you for your continued support
When to useStandard opening for business emails and phone calls to clients or business partners. Literally "I am in your care/debt."
よろしくお伝えください
RomajiYoroshiku otsutae kudasai
MeaningPlease give my regards to...
Casual formよろしく言っておいて
When to useUsed to send greetings through a third party. "Please tell [person] I said hello and regards."
Key Rules for Japanese Greetings
- Formality is context-dependent — the same person may receive おはよう (casual) from you at home and おはようございます (formal) in the office.
- Bowing accompanies greetings — a slight nod is fine for casual situations; a deeper bow (30–45°) for formal ones. The longer the bow, the more respect shown.
- こんにちは is not written こんにちわ — the は is the particle は (wa), not わ. This is a common mistake even among Japanese people in casual writing.
- さようなら implies finality — don't use it for everyday goodbyes with people you will see tomorrow. またね or じゃあね are far more natural.
- いただきます is not optional at meals — skipping it in company is considered rude. Even in a hurry, at least say it quietly before eating.
Use these greetings correctly in your own Japanese writing
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Check My Japanese →N5 vocabulary listFrequently Asked Questions
How do you say hello in Japanese?
The standard Japanese greeting is こんにちは (konnichiwa), used during the day (roughly 10 AM to 5 PM). In the morning, use おはようございます (ohayou gozaimasu) for formal contexts or おはよう (ohayou) casually. In the evening, use こんばんは (konbanwa). There is no single word for "hello" that works in all situations — the greeting depends on the time of day.
What is the difference between すみません and ごめんなさい?
すみません (sumimasen) is a versatile expression for "excuse me" used to get attention, apologise for minor things, or thank someone for going out of their way. ごめんなさい (gomennasai) is a genuine apology for something you did wrong. In casual speech, ごめん (gomen) is the short form. Use すみません to get a waiter's attention; use ごめんなさい if you accidentally bump into someone.
What does いただきます mean?
いただきます (itadakimasu) is said before eating. It literally means "I humbly receive" and expresses gratitude for the food, the person who prepared it, and the life that was given so you can eat. It is rude to begin eating in Japan without saying it. The counterpart said after finishing a meal is ごちそうさまでした (gochisousama deshita), meaning "it was a feast".
What does よろしくお願いします mean and how do I use it?
よろしくお願いします (yoroshiku onegai shimasu) is one of the most versatile and untranslatable Japanese expressions. It can mean "please treat me well", "I look forward to working with you", "thank you in advance", or "please take care of this for me", depending on context. It is used when meeting someone for the first time, starting a new project, handing off a task, or asking for a favour.