Hello and goodbye
Fixed greetings for the time of day, first meetings, phone calls and leaving.
ohayou
polite ohayou gozaimasugood morning
おはよう おはようございます
The morning greeting. In shift work (restaurants, TV, some shops) ohayou gozaimasu also opens a shift whatever the hour; elsewhere, after midday, colleagues say otsukaresama desu.
ohayou, hayai ne.
Morning! You're early.
おはよう、早いね。
ohayou gozaimasu, hayai desu ne.
Good morning. You're early.
おはようございます、早いですね。
konnichiwa
hello, good afternoon
こんにちは
The daytime hello to neighbours, shop staff and people you don't know well. Friends rarely say it to each other.
a, konnichiwa! okaimono?
Oh, hello! Out shopping?
あ、こんにちは！お買い物？
a, konnichiwa. okaimono desu ka?
Oh, hello. Are you out shopping?
あ、こんにちは。お買い物ですか？
The evening version is konbanwa.
jaa ne
polite shitsurei shimasubye, see you
じゃあね 失礼します
The everyday goodbye to friends and family; 'mata ne' adds 'see you again'.
jaa ne, mata ashita.
Bye, see you tomorrow.
じゃあね、また明日。
dewa, mata ashita. shitsurei shimasu.
Well then, see you tomorrow. Goodbye.
では、また明日。失礼します。
sayounara sounds final or school-like, and friends almost never say it. Leaving work before others: osaki ni shitsurei shimasu; to coworkers generally: otsukaresama desu.
hajimemashite
nice to meet you (opener)
はじめまして
Opens a first meeting, before you give your name, and is always followed by yoroshiku.
hajimemashite, kenta desu. yoroshiku!
Hi, I'm Kenta. Nice to meet you!
はじめまして、健太です。よろしく！
hajimemashite, kenta desu. yoroshiku onegai shimasu.
How do you do, I'm Kenta. Nice to meet you.
はじめまして、健太です。よろしくお願いします。
Learn alongside: yoroshiku
yoroshiku
polite yoroshiku onegai shimasuglad to know you; thanks ahead
よろしく よろしくお願いします
Closes an introduction ('please treat me well') and any favour you leave in someone's hands.
ja, ashita yoroshiku ne.
Okay, I'm counting on you tomorrow.
じゃ、明日よろしくね。
dewa, ashita yoroshiku onegai shimasu.
Well then, thank you in advance for tomorrow.
では、明日よろしくお願いします。
'X ni yoroshiku' means 'say hi to X for me'.
Learn alongside: hajimemashite
moshimoshi
hello? (on the phone)
もしもし
Opens a phone or video call, and checks the line when the other person goes quiet or the sound cuts out; it isn't used to greet someone in person.
moshimoshi, ima daijoubu?
Hello? Can you talk now?
もしもし、今大丈夫？
moshimoshi, ima daijoubu desu ka?
Hello, is now a good time?
もしもし、今大丈夫ですか？
Checking the line: moshimoshi? kikoeru? (hello? can you hear me?). When you answer a work phone, say hai, [name] desu rather than moshimoshi. Face to face it's either a joking 'hello? anyone home?' or an older speaker's 'excuse me' to a stranger.