Top 10 greetings in Japanese for Beginners 

Archaeological research has revealed that people lived in Japan as early as 40,000 BC (according to some accounts, even as early as 200,000 BC). Japan’s first inhabitants were most likely from Eastern or Southeastern Asia. They were hunters and gatherers who roamed the country in search of game. After 10,000 BC, there are signs of permanent settlements and more developed culture. This culture, known as Jomon, existed from around 10,000 BC to 300 BC. Around 300 BC, new peoples appeared in Japan, carrying the so-called Yayoi culture. The Yayoi culture lasted until 250 AD when it was replaced by the Kofun period.

During the Kofun period, Japanese culture was heavily influenced by Chinese – and to a lesser extent Korean – culture. Buddhism was introduced (via Korea) around the middle of the sixth century, and the Chinese writing system was adopted in Japan during the Kofun period. The major literary monuments of Japan, namely the historical books Kojiki and Nihongi, as well as the great collections of poems, Manyoshu, or “Collection of Ten Thousand Leaves,” and Kaifuso, were written during the Nara and Heian periods.

Ohayō gozaimasu おはようございます

Ohayō gozaimasu is probably the most known Japanese greeting all around the world. Its approximate translation means “good morning,” and is used generally in the morning hours until before noon. Infact it actually lacks the word “morning” in the phrase, allowing, the base word hayai (早い), which means “early” to compensate for it.

Konnichiwa こんにちわ

Konnichiwa is another well-known Japanese greeting that translates approximately to a “hello,” and can be used at any hour, though it is mostly used during the day time between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Konbanwa コンバンワ

Konbanwa is a Japanese greeting that is typically used after around 6 p.m. or sunset. It roughly translates to “good evening,” but in its true meaning, means “tonight.”

Oyasumi nasai なさいおやすみ

Oyasumi nasai is a Japanese greeting that almost means “please rest,” or “have a good rest,” but is used to mean “good night.”

Ittekimasu いてきます

Ittekimasu is a Japanese greeting used byba person when he/she leaves the house or office. The person who leaves uses, ittekimasu, literally meaning “I’ll go and come back,”

Itterasshai イテラシャイ

Itterasshai is said in response to Ittekimasu which literally means “please go and come back.”

Tadaima ただいま

Used by a person returning home/office, tadaima or tadaima modorimashita, literally means “I have come back now.” 

Okaeri おかえり

Okaeri is a greeting used to acknowledge the return of a person. The person-welcoming him/her back says, okaeri, or okaerinasai, to mean “welcome back.

Moshi moshi もしもし

Moshi moshi is the Japanese equivalent of Hello used when two people get connected on the phone. Moshi moshi is frequently heard on the phone at the start of a conversation to ensure that both parties can hear the line.

Hai はい

A polite way to answer the phone today is hai (はい) or “yes,” followed by your name or your company and your name, for business calls.

Japanese dialects are roughly divided into three groups: Eastern (Eastern and Northeastern Honshu, Hokkaido), Western (Western Honshu and Shikoku), and Southern (Kyushu) (Alpatov 1998). Dialects from different areas can be so dissimilar that they are incomprehensible to one another, but most speakers can communicate in standard Japanese, which is based on the Tokyo dialect.

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