Ways to Say "Hello" in Japanese
The usual all-purpose daytime greeting is こんにちは (konnichiwa). Other common hellos change with time of day, formality, and whether you are on the phone.
The most common way
konnichiwa
Hello; the standard daytime greeting, also close to “good afternoon.”
How to say it: The final は is pronounced wa, not ha: kon-nee-chee-wa, with fairly even rhythm.
Other ways to say it
- polite morning
ohayō gozaimasu
Good morning, in a polite and respectful tone.
When to use it: Use it in the morning with teachers, colleagues, customers, or anyone you address formally.
- casual morning
ohayō
Morning; a casual good morning.
When to use it: Use it in the morning with friends, family, or close colleagues.
- evening
konbanwa
Good evening; the standard greeting after dark.
When to use it: Use it in the evening or at night when greeting someone in person.
- friendly casual
yā
Hi or hey; light and friendly.
When to use it: Use it with friends or people you know well, especially when you run into them.
- telephone
moshi moshi
Hello, specifically on the phone.
When to use it: Use it only when answering or starting a phone call, not face to face.
In a conversation
- A
、！
Yā, hisashiburi!
Hey, long time no see!
- B
！？
Konnichiwa! Genki datta?
Hello! Have you been well?
Common mistakes
こんにちわ→ こんにちはThe greeting is written with は, which is pronounced wa here; こんにちわ is a common misspelling.
もしもし→ こんにちはもしもし is for phone calls; used face to face, it sounds odd as a greeting.