Most common ways to say hello in Japanese
| Hiragana | Romaji | Pronunciation | Meaning | When to use it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| おはよう (ございます) | Ohayou (gozaimasu) | Oh-ha-yo goh-zah-ee-mahs | Good morning | Before noon |
| こんにちは | Konnichiwa | koh-nee-chee-wah | Hello | Daytime |
| こんばんは | Konbanwa | kohn-bahn-wah | Good evening | After dark |
| もしもし | Moshi moshi | Moh-shee moh-shee | Hello | On the phone, informal |
| いらっしゃいませ | Irasshaimase | ee-rah-shy-mah-seh | Welcome | Greeting a customer |
| ただいま | Tadaima | tah-dah-ee-mah | I’m back | Arriving home |
| よ | Yo | yoh | Hi | Casual hello |
| すみません | Sumimasen | soo-mee-mah-sehn | Excuse me | Approaching a stranger |
Japanese greetings for specific situations
These are some more very common greetings you’ll hear in Japan, but they can’t be used just any time or by anyone, so take a close look at when they’re appropriate so you can greet people like a local.
5. Moshi moshi – もしもし
Meaning: I’m going to talk
Pronunciation: Moh-shee moh-shee (though you may hear people drop the last “ee” so it sounds more like “moh-shee mohsh”)
About: While you can read up on the whole story of moshi moshi, what you need to know right now is that it’s used like “hello”, it’s only used when picking up the phone, and it’s informal – so you shouldn’t use it if a boss or teacher is calling. But with your friends? Moshi moshi away.
6. Irasshaimase – いらっしゃいませ
Meaning: Welcome
Pronunciation: ee-rah-shy-mah-seh (“shy” here is as in the word ‘shy’ – when you combine “ah” and “ee” quickly, you get a sound like a pirate saying “aye captain”, which is what you see here)
About: This is a phrase new Japanese learners are frequently curious about, because they hear it so much! Irasshaimase is what gets yelled out when you enter a Japanese restaurant or store. The courteous phrase means “welcome” and is used to welcome customers or to beckon people in.
You’ll need this if you work in a Japanese store or restaurant where you see customers, but are otherwise more likely to hear it than use it yourself – it’s typically used in retail environments. There’s no need to say it, for example, to someone entering your house, although you could say the less formal irasshai (いらっしゃい) to an arriving house guest. And when you hear irasshaimase? The correct response is not to respond except with a polite nod of acknowledgement.
7. Ojamashimasu – おじゃまします
Meaning: I am going to disturb you
Pronunciation: oh-jah-ma-shi-mahs – In Japanese, it’s common not to really pronounce the final “u” on words like masu and desu so they become “mas” and “des” in conversation.
About: Ojamashimasu is a polite phrase to call out when entering someone’s home. It essentially means, “I’m sorry to bother you,” and is usually met with the phrase “douzo” – meaning, in this case, “come in” or “go ahead.” It’s good manners to say ojamashimasu any time you’re entering someone else’s house.
8. Tadaima – ただいま
Meaning: I’m home
Pronunciation: tah-da-ee-mah
About: Tadaima is the greeting used in Japanese to announce that you’ve arrived back in your own home. This phrase has a little bit of a warm and fuzzy feeling to it, since it’s used on arrival to say, “I’m home!” If someone else is home when you get there, they’ll typically respond with the phrase okaeri, meaning, “you’ve returned” or “welcome back.” It can also be used when arriving back in your office after an absence or, more cheekily, to announce that you’ve returned to anywhere that feels like home.
9. Osewa ni natteorimasu – お世話になっております
Meaning: Thank you for your continued support
Pronunciation: oh-seh-wah nee nah-teh-oh-ri-mahs
About: This is one of a few variations on a formal phrase used exclusively (but commonly) in business in Japan. You may hear it on the phone, in person, or see it in emails. It’s typically added in after an initial greeting but before beginning business.
If you’re new to Japanese, it’s worth noting that there are different levels of formality in Japanese speech that can get pretty complicated, especially in business or when dealing with dignitaries or people of high status. This is just a small taste of that, but it’s something you’ll need to learn eventually if you want to become fluent in Japanese.
10. Ohisashiburi desu – おひさしぶりです
Meaning: Long time no see
Pronunciation: oh-hee-sah-shi-boo-ree dehs
About: Just like the phrase “long time, no see” in English, you can use ohisashiburi desu as a greeting or in combination with other greetings when speaking to someone you haven’t seen in a while.
Ohisashiburi desu is the most formal version of this phrase, usable with acquaintances and bosses, but you can shorten it to ohisashiburi for co-workers and people who are friends or relatives but not very close, and to hisashiburi with close friends and family members.
Let’s break that down into pieces.
| こんにちは! | Konnichiwa! | Hello. |
|---|---|---|
| はじめまして。 | Hajimemash*te. | Nice to meet you. |
| エミリーです。 | Emily desu. | I am Emily. |
| どうぞよろしく。 | Douzo yoroshiku. | Literally means, “Please be good to me,” but is frequently used in greeting a new person, like a second “nice to meet you” with a positive wish for a good relationship. |
