Saying hi
Conversation phrases, Stage 1chunk 63 of 68Greetings, thanks and sorry
Lets you greet a friend or someone you run into.
- yahhoohiya!; hey!
- aitakattaI missed you; I wanted to see you
- doumothanks; hi
- konbanwagood evening; hi (after dark)
- odekake desu kaheading out?
Mix-ups doumo means both hi and thanks.
yahhoo
hiya!; hey!
A bright, playful hello to a close friend, often with a wave across a room or at the start of a call or message.
Sounds cheerful and a little cute; more common from women and young people. Also the shout people give from a mountaintop.
yahhoo! gomen ne, chotto okureta.
Hiya! Sorry, I'm a bit late.
やっほー！ごめんね、ちょっと遅れた。
Written やっほーWho you say it and hear itHeard 61× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitles
aitakatta
polite oai shitakatta desu
I missed you; I wanted to see you
Said on meeting a friend, partner or family member after time apart; the usual answer is 'watashi mo!' (me too).
Japanese has no direct 'I miss you': past aitakatta covers the reunion, while 'aitai' (I want to see you) is for while you're still apart.
hisashiburi! zutto aitakatta yo.
Long time no see! I've really missed you.
久しぶり！ずっと会いたかったよ。
ohisashiburi desu. zutto oai shitakatta desu.
It's been a while. I've been wanting to see you.
お久しぶりです。ずっとお会いしたかったです。
Written 会いたかった · あいたかった · お会いしたかったですWho you say it and hear itHeard 403× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitles
doumo
thanks; hi
A quick thanks to staff or someone holding a door; also a nod-like hi to someone you half know.
Alone it can sound curt; doumo arigatou or doumo sumimasen is fuller.
doumo, hontou ni tasukatta yo.
Thanks, that really helped.
どうも、本当に助かったよ。
doumo, hontou ni tasukarimashita.
Thank you, that really helped.
どうも、本当に助かりました。
Written どうもWho you say it and hear itHeard 4146× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitles
konbanwa
good evening; hi (after dark)
Hello from about sunset on, to neighbours, shop staff or people you don't know well.
Close friends and family don't say it to each other.
konbanwa! mada mise aiteru?
Evening! Is the shop still open?
こんばんは！まだ店開いてる？
konbanwa. mada aite imasu ka?
Good evening. Are you still open?
こんばんは。まだ開いていますか？
Written こんばんはWho you say it and hear itHeard 566× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitles
odekake desu ka
heading out?
A neighbour's greeting when they see you leaving; it isn't really asking where, so answer vaguely.
The stock answer is ee, chotto soko made (just up the road).
a, ohayou gozaimasu. odekake desu ka?
Oh, good morning. Off out?
あ、おはようございます。お出かけですか？
Written お出かけですか · おでかけですかWho said to youHeard 7× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitles