Japanese greetings are a useful first step for speaking politely and confidently in everyday situations. Simple words like konnichiwa and arigatou help you show respect, friendliness, and attention to context. Greetings in Japanese are often connected to time of day, social setting, and the relationship between speakers.
Learning both the words and the manners makes communication feel more natural.
Key Facts
- Konnichiwa means hello or good afternoon and is written in hiragana as こんにちは.
- Ohayou gozaimasu means good morning and is more polite than ohayou.
- Konbanwa means good evening and is written in hiragana as こんばんは.
- Arigatou gozaimasu means thank you politely and is safer than arigatou with strangers or teachers.
- Sumimasen can mean excuse me, sorry, or thank you depending on the situation.
- A small bow of about 15 degrees is common for casual greetings, while deeper bows show more respect or apology.
Vocabulary
- Konnichiwa
- A common Japanese greeting meaning hello or good afternoon.
- Arigatou gozaimasu
- A polite phrase meaning thank you.
- Romaji
- The writing of Japanese sounds using the Roman alphabet, such as konnichiwa.
- Bowing
- A respectful gesture in Japan made by bending forward from the waist.
- Keigo
- Polite or honorific Japanese language used to show respect.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Using arigatou with everyone, because it can sound too casual in formal situations. Use arigatou gozaimasu with teachers, strangers, or adults you do not know well.
- Pronouncing konnichiwa exactly as it looks in English, because Japanese syllables are more even and clear. Say it with steady sounds, ko-n-ni-chi-wa, without stressing one syllable strongly.
- Bowing too casually while saying a very polite phrase, because body language should match the level of respect. A small but clear bow fits many polite greetings.
- Using konnichiwa at any time of day, because Japanese has time-specific greetings. Use ohayou gozaimasu in the morning and konbanwa in the evening.
Practice Questions
- 1 You greet 3 teachers in the morning and 2 classmates in the afternoon. Write the polite greeting for the teachers and the common greeting for the classmates, then count how many total greetings you used.
- 2 A student says arigatou gozaimasu 4 times and sumimasen 3 times during a school visit. How many polite expressions did the student use in total, and what does each phrase usually mean?
- 3 You meet a principal, a close friend, and a shop worker on the same day. Choose an appropriate greeting or polite phrase for each person and explain how your level of politeness changes.