How to say hello and goodbye in Japanese
こんにちは。
konnichiwa.
“Hello.”
When: Meeting anyone during the day
The moment
You arrive at a small Tokyo language school in the morning. You greet the receptionist at the front desk, ask how she has been, and say goodbye as you head out.
A1 · Unit 1 · First words
The lines
The all-day hello
「こんにちは」 is the safe hello from late morning until sunset, with anyone from a shop clerk to a neighbour. When someone greets you, the reply is simply the same word back.
こんにちは。
konnichiwa.
“Hello.”
When to use it: Meeting anyone during the day
What you’ll hear back: こんにちは。 konnichiwa. (Hello.)
Asking how someone is
「お元気ですか」 asks how someone has been. Save it for people you have not seen in a while — asking a coworker you saw yesterday sounds strange. Answer briefly with 「はい、元気です。」
お元気ですか。
o-genki desu ka.
“How are you?”
When to use it: Greeting someone after some time apart
What you’ll hear back: はい、おかげさまで元気です。 hai, okagesama de genki desu. (Yes, I'm well, thank you.)
Words for this scene
| Japanese | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|
| おはようございます | ohayō gozaimasu | Good morning |
おはようございます。今日はいい天気ですね。 Good morning. Nice weather today, isn't it? Tip: Used until about 11 a.m.; friends get the short ohayō. | ||
| どうも | dōmo | Hi / thanks (casual) |
あ、どうも。お久しぶりです。 Oh, hi. Long time no see. Tip: Casual hi for people you know — never to a boss or customer. | ||
| 失礼します | shitsurei shimasu | Goodbye (as you leave) |
そろそろ失礼します。 I should be getting going now. Tip: The everyday polite exit line; sayōnara sounds oddly final. | ||
Your objective
Say hello, ask how they are, and say goodbye properly as you leave.
- a greeting
- asking how they are
- a goodbye
Lines that get it done
- こんにちは。
- お元気ですか。
- 失礼します · shitsurei shimasu · Goodbye (as you leave)
In the live scene the objective stays on screen, and the Replay afterwards says whether you got it done.
Check yourself
1. It is 8 a.m. and you pass the receptionist on your way in. What do you say?
- おはようございます。
- こんばんは。
- おやすみなさい。
- お元気ですか。
Show the answer
おはようございます。
「おはようございます」 is the polite morning greeting, used until around 10 or 11 a.m.
2. Someone asks you 「お元気ですか。」 Which short reply sounds natural?
- はい、元気です。
- はい、お元気です。
- いいえ、こんにちは。
- はい、失礼します。
Show the answer
はい、元気です。
You drop the polite 「お」 when talking about your own condition.
3. You are leaving the front desk to head out for the day. What do you say as you go?
- 失礼します。
- おはようございます。
- お元気ですか。
- こんにちは。
Show the answer
失礼します。
「失礼します」 is the standard polite line for stepping out of a place or away from someone.