Japanese Greetings: 30 Essential Phrases for Everyday Conversations (2026)

If you're learning Japanese, greetings are some of the first words you'll encounter.

Most beginners quickly learn こんにちは, ありがとう and さようなら.

But then something confusing happens.

You watch a Japanese drama, listen to a podcast or visit Japan, and hardly anyone seems to say さようなら.

Instead, you hear phrases like:

• お疲れ様です

• いってきます

• いらっしゃいませ

• じゃあね

So which greetings do Japanese people actually use?

The answer is that Japanese greetings depend heavily on the situation, the relationship between the speakers and the time of day.

That's why simply memorising a list of words isn't enough.

In this guide, you'll learn:

• The most common Japanese greetings

• When each greeting should (and shouldn't) be used

• The difference between casual and polite expressions

• Real conversation examples

• Cultural notes that help you sound more natural

By the end of this article, you'll know not just what to say, but when to say it.

TLDR

Japanese doesn't have one universal word for "hello." Instead, different greetings are used depending on the time of day, the situation and who you're speaking to.

Quick Answer

Here are the greetings every beginner should know first.

Once you're comfortable with these, you can gradually learn the more natural expressions used in everyday conversations.

Morning, Afternoon and Evening Greetings

Let's begin with the greetings you'll use throughout the day.

Good Morning

おはようございます

Ohayō gozaimasu

This is the polite way to say good morning.

You'll hear it:

• at school

• at work

• when entering a shop before noon

• when greeting teachers

• when meeting someone early in the day

Among close friends and family, it's often shortened to:

おはよう

Ohayō

Example

A: おはようございます。

B: おはようございます。

Good morning.

Cultural Note

In Japan, it's perfectly normal to say おはようございます even if you start work in the afternoon or evening.

The phrase is often used as a greeting for the beginning of your workday, not strictly the morning.

That's why you'll sometimes hear TV presenters or restaurant staff say it late in the day.

Hello / Good Afternoon

The most famous Japanese greeting is:

こんにちは

Konnichiwa

It usually means:

• Hello

• Good afternoon

Unlike English, こんにちは isn't used every time you meet someone.

Japanese speakers choose greetings based on the situation rather than relying on one universal word.

Example

A: こんにちは。

B: こんにちは。

Hello.

You'll often hear this greeting when entering a small shop, meeting neighbours or speaking with someone during the afternoon.

Good Evening

After sunset, Japanese speakers generally switch to:

こんばんは

Konbanwa

This simply means:

Good evening.

Example

A: こんばんは。

B: こんばんは。

This greeting is common when arriving at restaurants, visiting someone's home in the evening or meeting friends after work.

Casual vs Polite Greetings

One of the first things you'll notice about Japanese is that greetings change depending on who you're speaking to.

Here are a few examples.

As a beginner, it's usually safer to choose the polite version.

You'll sound respectful, and no one will think you're being overly formal.

As your Japanese improves, you'll naturally learn when casual greetings are more appropriate.

Greetings You'll Hear Every Day in Japan

Some of the most common Japanese greetings aren't direct translations of "hello."

Instead, they're tied to everyday situations.

I'm Leaving

いってきます

Ittekimasu

People say this when leaving home.

It roughly means:

"I'm off."

Response

いってらっしゃい

Itterasshai

Meaning:

"Take care."

or

"See you later."

These two expressions are used together every day in Japanese households.

Welcome

When you walk into a shop in Japan, you'll almost always hear:

いらっしゃいませ！

Irasshaimase!

This means:

"Welcome!"

Customers aren't expected to reply.

It's simply a greeting from the staff.

Welcome Home

When someone returns home, they're greeted with:

おかえりなさい

Okaerinasai

A casual version is simply:

おかえり

The person returning usually replies:

ただいま

Tadaima

Meaning:

"I'm home."

These expressions are incredibly common in Japanese families and appear frequently in anime, dramas and everyday conversations.

Real Conversation Example

Imagine arriving home after work.

A: ただいま！

I'm home!

B: おかえり！

Welcome home!

Or imagine leaving for school.

A: いってきます。

I'm leaving.

B: いってらっしゃい！

Take care!

Notice how these greetings aren't literal translations.

They're expressions tied to specific situations, which is one of the reasons Japanese greetings feel so natural once you learn them in context.

Saying Goodbye Naturally

Many beginners learn さようなら as the Japanese word for "goodbye."

While that's correct, it's not the phrase you'll hear most often.

In everyday conversations, Japanese speakers usually choose a goodbye based on the situation and their relationship with the other person.

Here are the most common expressions.

Cultural Note

Many learners are surprised that さようなら isn't used very often between close friends.

Because it can imply a longer separation, people usually prefer phrases like またね or じゃあね for everyday goodbyes.

Think of さようなら as something you might hear at the end of a school day, when moving away, or in more formal situations.

Greetings You'll Hear at Work

If you visit Japan or work with Japanese colleagues, you'll quickly notice greetings that don't have direct English translations.

お疲れ様です

お疲れ様です

Otsukaresama desu

This is one of the most useful phrases in Japanese.

Depending on the situation, it can mean:

• Hello (at work)

• Thanks for your hard work.

• Good job today.

• See you.

You'll hear it throughout the workday, not just when people leave.

Example

A: お疲れ様です。

B: お疲れ様です。

It might sound repetitive to English speakers, but in Japan it's a completely natural greeting between colleagues.

お先に失礼します

When leaving work before your coworkers, it's common to say:

お先に失礼します。

Osaki ni shitsurei shimasu.

It literally means:

"Excuse me for leaving before you."

Coworkers often reply:

お疲れ様です。

Understanding these workplace expressions will help you sound much more natural if you study or work in Japan.

Thanking and Apologising

Greetings in Japanese also include everyday expressions of gratitude and apology.

Thank You

Casual:

ありがとう

Arigatō

Polite:

ありがとうございます

Arigatō gozaimasu

Sorry

Casual:

ごめん

Gomen

Polite:

ごめんなさい

Gomen nasai

These are among the most frequently used expressions in daily conversation, so they're worth learning early.

Common Beginner Mistakes

Using こんにちは All Day

Many beginners assume こんにちは means "hello" in every situation.

In reality:

• Morning → おはようございます

• Afternoon → こんにちは

• Evening → こんばんは

Choosing the right greeting immediately makes your Japanese sound more natural.

Saying さようなら Too Often

Because many textbooks translate さようなら as "goodbye," learners tend to use it everywhere.

In casual conversations, Japanese speakers are much more likely to say:

• またね

• じゃあね

• また明日

These feel warmer and more natural between friends.

Ignoring Formality

Japanese greetings change depending on who you're speaking to.

For example:

• Friend → おはよう

• Teacher → おはようございます

When you're unsure, choosing the polite version is usually the safest option.

People are unlikely to think you're being too polite, but using a casual greeting with your teacher or manager may sound inappropriate.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is こんにちは the same as "hello"?

Not exactly.

It usually means hello during the afternoon, but Japanese doesn't rely on one greeting throughout the day like English does.

The greeting changes depending on the time and the situation.

Do Japanese people really say "moshi moshi"?

Yes, but only on the phone.

もしもし

Moshi moshi

is used when answering or starting a telephone conversation.

You wouldn't use it when meeting someone in person.

When should I use お疲れ様です?

You'll hear お疲れ様です constantly in workplaces.

It's used to greet coworkers, acknowledge someone's effort, or end a conversation.

There's no perfect English equivalent, which is why it can feel confusing at first.

Is ありがとう enough?

Yes.

ありがとう is perfectly natural with friends and family.

When speaking to teachers, customers, colleagues or people you've just met, ありがとうございます is usually more appropriate.

Final Thoughts

Japanese greetings are about much more than saying "hello."

They reflect the time of day, your relationship with the other person and the situation you're in.

That's why learning greetings in context is much more effective than memorising a simple vocabulary list.

Start with the expressions you'll use most often:

• おはようございます

• こんにちは

• こんばんは

• ありがとう

• またね

Then gradually add the workplace and family greetings as you become more comfortable.

You'll soon notice them everywhere, from anime and dramas to conversations with native speakers.

What Should You Learn Next?

Now that you've learned the most common greetings, here are a few articles that will help you continue building practical Japanese vocabulary.

📖 Japanese Family Vocabulary

Learn how to talk about your family naturally, including the important difference between your own family and someone else's.

📖 Japanese Numbers 1–100

Master the numbers you'll use every day when talking about time, prices and dates.

📖 How to Tell Time in Japanese

Learn how to ask and answer questions about the time with confidence.

📖 Best Way to Learn Japanese Vocabulary

Discover practical strategies to remember new Japanese words and build long-term retention.

Continue Your Japanese Journey

The best Japanese learners don't memorise random words. They learn the language they can immediately use in real life.

That's the philosophy behind Japanese Journey.

Through guided learning paths, native audio and daily review, you'll build vocabulary step by step and gain the confidence to use Japanese naturally in everyday conversations.

Keep learning a little every day, and before long these greetings will become second nature.

Practice more at 👉 www.japanesejourney.app

Or visit our YouTube channel for free practice videos: www.youtube.com/japanesejourneylearn