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How to Say Hello in Japanese?
Updated Words & Meanings
An important nuance most learners miss: Japanese speakers actually use konnichiwa less often than English speakers use "hello" between people who already know each other. It's common with strangers, in formal introductions, or on the phone/radio, but friends and coworkers who see each other regularly often skip a greeting word entirely and go straight into conversation, or use a quick acknowledgement instead.
Greetings change by time of day, unlike English "hello":
| Japanese | Romanised | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| おはようございます | ohayou gozaimasu | Morning (polite) |
| おはよう | ohayou | Morning (casual, close friends) |
| こんにちは | konnichiwa | Daytime |
| こんばんは | konbanwa | Evening |
Pronunciation
- konnichiwa — "kon-nee-chee-wah"
- ohayou gozaimasu — "oh-ha-yoh go-zai-mas"
- konbanwa — "kon-bahn-wah"
Casual alternatives between friends: a simple wave, a nod, or やあ (yaa, roughly "hey") is common in casual settings, since a formal "hello" can feel oddly stiff between people who already know each other well.
Two similar answers: How to Say Hello in Korean? and How to Say 'I Love You' in Spanish?.
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