Japan is a country filled with amazing culture, beautiful scenery, and warm traditions, and its way of greeting people reflects all of this. If you’re planning to visit the busy streets of Tokyo or want to impress your Japanese friends, knowing how to greet someone properly is a great first step in building good connections.
In Japan, greetings can include simple gestures like bowing and nice phrases that show kindness and respect. These small actions and words reveal a lot about Japanese life, making them more than just a way to say hello. By learning about Japanese greetings, you can understand how these little gestures can greatly impact your interactions and leave a positive impression.
Here are 80+ Japanese greetings you can use to connect and impress:
- こんにちは (Konnichiwa) – Hello (used during the day)
- おはようございます (Ohayou gozaimasu) – Good morning (formal)
- おはよう (Ohayou) – Good morning (casual)
- こんばんは (Konbanwa) – Good evening
- さようなら (Sayounara) – Goodbye (formal)
- またね (Mata ne) – See you later (casual)
- ありがとうございます (Arigatou gozaimasu) – Thank you (formal)
- ありがとう (Arigatou) – Thank you (casual)
- どうも (Doumo) – Thanks (very casual)
- はじめまして (Hajimemashite) – Nice to meet you
- よろしくお願いします (Yoroshiku onegaishimasu) – Please treat me well (used during introductions)
- いらっしゃいませ (Irasshaimase) – Welcome (used by shopkeepers)
- ようこそ (Youkoso) – Welcome
- お疲れ様です (Otsukaresama desu) – Thank you for your hard work
- お久しぶりです (Ohisashiburi desu) – Long time no see (formal)
- 久しぶり (Hisashiburi) – Long time no see (casual)
- お元気ですか？ (Ogenki desu ka?) – How are you? (formal)
- 元気？ (Genki?) – How are you? (casual)
- おめでとうございます (Omedetou gozaimasu) – Congratulations (formal)
- おめでとう (Omedetou) – Congratulations (casual)
- いってきます (Ittekimasu) – I’m leaving (said when leaving home)
- いってらっしゃい (Itterasshai) – Take care (response to Ittekimasu)
- ただいま (Tadaima) – I’m back (said when returning home)
- おかえりなさい (Okaerinasai) – Welcome back (formal)
- おかえり (Okaeri) – Welcome back (casual)
- もしもし (Moshi moshi) – Hello (used on the phone)
- すみません (Sumimasen) – Excuse me / Sorry
- ごめんなさい (Gomen nasai) – I’m sorry (formal)
- ごめん (Gomen) – I’m sorry (casual)
- お願いします (Onegaishimasu) – Please (formal request)
- どうぞ (Douzo) – Please (offering something)
- おやすみなさい (Oyasuminasai) – Good night (formal)
- おやすみ (Oyasumi) – Good night (casual)
- ようございます (You gozaimasu) – Good day (rarely used, very formal)
- どういたしまして (Dou itashimashite) – You’re welcome
- お大事に (Odaiji ni) – Take care (when someone is sick)
- いらっしゃい (Irasshai) – Welcome (informal, often used at home)
- こちらこそ (Kochira koso) – Likewise / Same here
- お邪魔します (Ojamashimasu) – Excuse me for disturbing you (used when entering someone’s home)
- お邪魔しました (Ojamashimashita) – Sorry for disturbing you (used when leaving someone’s home)
- お誕生日おめでとうございます (Otanjoubi omedetou gozaimasu) – Happy birthday (formal)
- お誕生日おめでとう (Otanjoubi omedetou) – Happy birthday (casual)
- 良いお年を (Yoi otoshi o) – Happy New Year (before the New Year)
- 明けましておめでとうございます (Akemashite omedetou gozaimasu) – Happy New Year (formal, after the New Year)
- 明けましておめでとう (Akemashite omedetou) – Happy New Year (casual)
- いただきます (Itadakimasu) – I humbly receive (said before eating)
- ごちそうさまでした (Gochisousama deshita) – Thank you for the meal (formal, after eating)
- ごちそうさま (Gochisousama) – Thanks for the meal (casual)
- 行ってまいります (Itte mairimasu) – I’m leaving (formal, very polite)
- 良い一日を (Yoi ichinichi o) – Have a good day
- ご機嫌いかがですか？ (Gokigen ikaga desu ka?) – How are you feeling today? (very polite)
- お会いできて嬉しいです (Oaidekite ureshii desu) – It’s a pleasure to meet you
- ご無沙汰しております (Gobusatashite orimasu) – It’s been a while (formal)
- お変わりありませんか？ (Okawari arimasen ka?) – Have you been well? (polite)
- 失礼します (Shitsurei shimasu) – Excuse me (formal, also used when leaving)
- 失礼いたします (Shitsurei itashimasu) – Pardon me (very formal, often used in business)
- 行って参ります (Itte mairimasu) – I’ll be off (formal version of Ittekimasu)
- お待たせしました (Omatase shimashita) – Sorry to keep you waiting
- お元気で (Ogenki de) – Take care of yourself
- 楽しんでください (Tanoshinde kudasai) – Please enjoy yourself
- お世話になります (Osewa ni narimasu) – Thank you for taking care of me (polite, often used in business)
- お疲れ様でした (Otsukaresama deshita) – Thank you for your effort (formal, after work)
- お大事になさってください (Odaiji ni nasatte kudasai) – Please take care of yourself (very polite)
- ごゆっくりどうぞ (Goyukkuri douzo) – Please take your time
- ごきげんよう” (Gokigenyou): A very formal and elegant way of saying “hello” or “goodbye,” often used in literary or ceremonial contexts.
- どうぞよろしく” (Douzo yoroshiku): A shorter, casual version of “Yoroshiku onegaishimasu,” used during introductions or requests.
- おす” (Osu): A casual, masculine greeting meaning “Hey” or “Yo,” commonly used among male friends or in martial arts settings.
- やあ” (Yaa): Informal and friendly, equivalent to “Hi” or “Hey” in English, used among close friends.
- 元気そうですね” (Genki sou desu ne): A friendly greeting that translates to “You look well,” often used when meeting someone after a while.
- 調子はどう？(Choushi wa dou?): “How’s it going?” A casual way to ask about someone’s condition or situation.
- お久しぶりにお目にかかります (Ohisashiburi ni ome ni kakarimasu): A very formal way of saying “It’s been a long time,” often used in business or polite settings.
- お元気でいらっしゃいましたか？ (Ogenki de irasshaimashita ka?): A highly polite version of “Have you been well?” used to show respect to someone.
- 行ってらっしゃいませ (Itterasshaimase): A formal way of saying “Take care” or “Have a safe journey,” often used in hospitality or customer service.
- ようお越しくださいました(You okoshi kudasaimashita): A very polite way to say “Thank you for coming,” often used to greet guests formally.
- いつもお世話になっております(Itsumo osewa ni natte orimasu): A formal phrase meaning “Thank you for your continued support,” often used in business emails or meetings.
- またお会いできて嬉しいです” (Mata oai dekite ureshii desu): “I’m happy to see you again,” a polite and friendly way to greet someone you’ve met before.
- お越しいただきありがとうございます” (Okoshi itadaki arigatou gozaimasu): “Thank you for coming,” used to warmly greet someone at an event or meeting.
- よくいらっしゃいました” (Yoku irasshaimashita): A warm and formal way to welcome someone, similar to “It’s good to have you here.”
- 頑張ってください” (Ganbatte kudasai): While not a traditional greeting, it means “Please do your best” and is often used to encourage someone when parting.
- よろしくね” (Yoroshiku ne): A casual version of “Yoroshiku onegaishimasu,” used among friends or peers.
- またお会いしましょう” (Mata oai shimashou): A friendly and polite way to say “Let’s meet again.”
- お会いできるのを楽しみにしています” (Oai dekiru no o tanoshimi ni shiteimasu): A polite way to express “I look forward to meeting you.”
- ようこそいらっしゃいました” (Youkoso irasshaimashita): A formal and warm greeting, translating to “Welcome, we’re glad you’re here.”
These greetings can help you make a great impression and show respect for Japanese culture!
In Summary:
Learning to greet people in Japanese goes beyond memorizing words; it’s about appreciating a culture that values respect, harmony, and connection. These small gestures can mean a lot when you say “Konnichiwa” with a smile or bow your head to show thanks.
So, the next time you meet someone from Japan or travel there, remember that a friendly greeting can create a strong bond. Start with a simple “Arigatou” (thank you) or “Ohayou” (good morning), and you might make a lasting friendship!
