Say hello in Japanese: 24 simple sentences (inside audio) (2023)

Konnichiwa!

Do you want to say hello in Japanese?Good! Greetings are the first thing to know when you arelearn japanese. The 3 most common are:

  • Hola – Konnichiwa – Hola
  • Bom dia – Ohayou gozaimasu – Bom dia
  • Good night - Konbanwa - Good night

But wait. In this guide you will get an excellentList of Japanese greetingscom24 ways to say hello in Japaneseand explanations for each. You may already know Konnichiwa and maybe Ohayou.

So let's look at all the Japanese words for hello.

1. Oh you

Okay, let's start tomorrow morning. You are awake between 6:00 a.m. and 10:59 a.m. And you see a friend. How do you greet her? To see how:

  • Good day
  • Ohayou
  • good morning (informal)

By the way, you should also listen to real Japanese and how it sounds.

So if you're interested, here's a quick lesson on Greetings FromJapanesePod101.com(a Japanese educational app).

Just press thePlay-TasteClick the player below to listen and learn how to say hello in Japanese with the audio lesson.

2. Ohayou gozaimasu

Now there's a polite way to say good morning in Japanese. Just take the previous sentence and add "gozaimasu". Very pronounced "go-zai-mas" (zai rhymes with eye). Use this for strangers and high profile people.

  • Good day
  • This isn't English
  • good morning (formal)
Say hello in Japanese: 24 simple sentences (inside audio) (1)Would you like to learn to write Japanese?download yoursFREE Japanese Alphabet eBook here.

3. Konnichiwa

So after the morning is over... what time is it? 11:00? Yes, after the morning is over, you need to say "hello" or "good morning". This is where "konnichiwa" comes into play. It is one of the most well-known and frequently occurring words.Japanese greetings. For many students, "konnichiwa" is the first word.

But remember, it's for the day.

  • Hallo
  • Konnichiwa
  • Hello, good morning)

4. Konbanwa

When does the night begin? Say 6 p.m. So from 6 p.m. m., shouldn't say "konnichiwa" anymore. We switch to a good night greeting. This is the correct way to say hello in Japanese at night.

  • Good night
  • Konbanwa
  • Good night

5. "¡No!"

Well, this is a super informal way to say hello in Japanese among young people. That's right, you probably use "yo" the same way in English. Well you can do it in Japanese. There is not much difference in pronunciation.

  • Of
  • NO!
  • NO!

6. Local

Girls just say that. It has no special meaning and is not directly translatable. It's just "hello," but it's a nice way to say "hello" in Japanese. However, since they know how Japanese works, they probably took a longer word and shortened or swapped it.

  • yeah~
  • Local ~
  • ¡Ey!

7. moshi moshi

Yes, that's a way of saying hello in Japanese. Whatever it isIt is only used to answer the phone.nothing else.

Do you pronounce it "mooshy mooshy"? Please do not. The "mo" is like mo in the morning. And more often than not, it's referred to as "moshi mosh," where the "i" of the second word is not pronounced.

  • Hallo
  • Hallo
  • Hello (on the phone)

8. Very!

This is another youthful way of saying hello or hello in Japanese. The "U" is silent in this word.

  • ¡Ey!
  • Osso!
  • NO!

Where does "Osu" come from?Well, it comes from Kyoto-occupied Japan, and more specifically from martial arts students. They changed from "ohayogozaimasu" to "ohayo-ssu" and eventually shortened it to "ossu". For this reason, it is also commonly used by anyone studying Japanese martial arts.

9.Hisashiburi

NO literally means hello in Japanese. But it's definitely used as a greeting instead of hello. And it's used when you haven't seen a person in a while. So yes, that's the first word you can say when you meet someone who greets you.

  • long time no see
  • Hisashiburi
  • It's been some time

Zehn. Tadaima!

Yes, this can be used to say hello in Japanese. That's what you say when you get home. It's like a "Hello!" or "I'm back" or "I'm home" and generally it's a greeting when you come home. Is that. This is one of many common Japanese phrases that you should know.

  • I'm at home!
  • Tadaima!
  • I have returned!

As a bonus, if you come home and say "tadaima," whoever greets you should say "okaeri," or "welcome back."

11. Is that you?

  • What do you think?
  • Of?
  • How are you doing? (casual)

You know itdo youhalfifso here you're just asking "how are you?" But remember that the Japanese language depends on the context. If you and someone else just took a test together and you are talking about it, the listener will think you are talking about the test.

12. Ach!

  • NO!
  • Oh!
  • NO!

It's like the Australian "Oy" but with a slightly longer "O" depending on how far you want to go. This is one of those ways to say hello in Japanese... especially when you're yelling across the street. Great way to get a friend's attention.

13. Kyou-wa-donna-Kanji?

  • How are you feeling today?
  • Kyou-wa-donna-Kanji?
  • How is your day? (casual)

kyouMeaninghallo,DonnaMeaninghow / what kindmiKanjiEsfeeling/condition/general condition.Kanji is quite a versatile word as it can be used in many contexts e.g. B. in relation to the state of your day, the taste of a drink, the atmosphere of a difficult meeting, etc. Replace "kyou” with another theme like … try wine, name of the person and it will work.

14. Oai dekite kouei desu.

  • I am honored to get to know you.
  • Oai dekite kouei desu.
  • I am glad to meet you. (very very formal)

NO, this is not a replacement for "Hajimemashita.” Just a sentence to tell someone that you meet again... because it's nice to see you again. Now this theorem is formal. As you know? It starts with theÖ' before the nounAI (meeting).

15. Ikaga o-sugoshi desu ka.

  • How are you doing?
  • Ikaga o-sugoshi desu ka.
  • How are you doing?

Again a formal expression, so not with friends, but maybe with superiors.Ikagais a very formal way of sayingifand as you can seesugoshi(meaning the time spent) begins with aÖmeaning it's formal.

16. O-genki desu ka.

  • How are you.
  • O-genki desu ka.
  • How are you?

Yes you are right. "How are you doing?" It's not a pure way of saying hello in Japanese, but... people use it as a greeting, right? Then it's alright. If "how are you" is your first words when meeting a friend in English, the same goes for Japanese. By the way, "genki" means "excited" or "fine," so it's like asking "are you alright?"

Again, this is formal. frees thatÖvonO-genkiand turn it into a casual sentence:

  • How's it going.
  • Genki desu ka.
  • How are you doing? / Are you Genki?

17. Haro-

  • Hallo
  • Haro-
  • Hallo

Yes, that's "hello" in English. You can actually use it in Japanese, although it's super casual. Children can use it. Adults maybe not so much unless they are very friendly or joking.

18. ¿ Saikin du?

  • how are you currently
  • ¿ Saikin du?
  • what's new (casual)

"Saikin" means recently. And "dou" means "how?" But this is just one of many ways to say "What's up" or "What's up" or "What's up?"

19. Irasshaimasa

  • Welcome
  • Irasshaimasa
  • Welcome! (only used in companies)

In Japan, if you walk into a store or restaurant, they will yell that. Take it as "Welcome". Sometimes the store staff not only yell "Irrashaimase" to those entering, but also to passers-by to get them inside. In this case, it's more of a "Go!"

20. Nanka atta?

  • Something happens?
  • Nanka atta?
  • Something happens? (casual)

"Nanka" is a shortened version of "nani ka" which means "something" or "something". And atta is the past tense of the verb aru, meaning to have, be, or happen. So you're literally asking, "Did something happen?"

21. (X) ga yoroshiku tte

  • Say hello to (X)
  • (X) ga yoroshiku tte
  • (X) says "Hello"

Do you want to tell someone that someone said hello? Like, oh, "Hey, John-san said hello to you." How to do it: Mr. John がよろしくって. (casual).

21. Dom

  • Gracias
  • Collapse
  • Any. (casual)

Doumo is a very versatile word. You can use it to say thank you. You can also use it to say hello in Japanese. This word is a shortened version of the long greetings used in the Edo period. It's very casual, so only wear it with friends.

22. Kawatta koto aru?

  • Has anything changed?
  • Kawatta koto aru?
  • Has anything changed?

Yes, that's another way of saying "what's new" or "what's new?" However, you are literally asking if there have been any changes (since you last met).

23. X ni yoroshiku itte oite

  • Say hello to (X)
  • X ni yoroshiku itte oite
  • Tell X I said hello.

In case you wanted to say hello to someone. (Casual).

24. Minasan ni, yoroshiku otsutae kudasai

  • Please greet everyone
  • Minasan ni, yoroshiku otsutae kudasai
  • Tell everyone I said hello

If you want to say hello in Japanese… everyone! (Formally)

Diploma

Now you know all the funny Japanese greetings.

Now that you're here, how about a quick recap, huh?

Answer this poll and choose the most important sentence. This will help hold it in place a little better.

As a quick overview,Here are ways to say hello in Japanesein advance. See picture below.

Say hello in Japanese: 24 simple sentences (inside audio) (2)

Do you know any other unique ways to say hello in Japanese?

Leave a comment below and I'll add it to this list.

I read all the comments!

What's next?

  • Next article: say goodbye in japanese

Later!

- The main junkie

PS I recommend this for Japanese students.If you want to REALLY learn Japanese with effective lessons from real teachers:Join JapanesePod101 for free (click here)and start learning!
Say hello in Japanese: 24 simple sentences (inside audio) (3)

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