Japanese Daily Greetings: Master おはよう, こんにちは, and こんばんは

The Importance of Greetings in Japan

In Japanese culture, greetings (挨拶, aisatsu) are more than just words – they're essential for building relationships and showing respect. Using the right greeting at the right time shows cultural awareness and helps you connect with Japanese speakers.

Morning Greetings - おはよう

おはようございます (Ohayou gozaimasu)

Pronunciation Guide:

• お-は-よ-う-ご-ざ-い-ま-す
• O-ha-you go-zai-mas

Examples:

• At work: おはようございます、田中さん。
  • Good morning, Mr./Ms. Tanaka.
• At school: 先生、おはようございます。
  • Good morning, teacher.

おはよう (Ohayou)

Examples:

• To a friend: おはよう！今日も元気？
  • Morning! Feeling good today?
• To family: おはよう、朝ごはん食べた？
  • Morning, did you eat breakfast?

Afternoon Greetings - こんにちは

こんにちは (Konnichiwa)

Pronunciation Guide:

• こ-ん-に-ち-は
• Kon-ni-chi-wa (Note: は is pronounced "wa" here)

Important Note: こんにちは doesn't have casual/formal variations like morning greetings. It's appropriate for most situations.

Examples:

• Meeting someone: こんにちは、初めまして。
  • Hello, nice to meet you.
• Entering a shop: こんにちは！
  • Hello!

Evening Greetings - こんばんは

こんばんは (Konbanwa)

Pronunciation Guide:

• こ-ん-ば-ん-は
• Kon-ban-wa

Like こんにちは, this greeting works in both formal and casual situations.

Examples:

• Meeting for dinner: こんばんは、お待たせしました。
  • Good evening, sorry to keep you waiting.
• Evening class: こんばんは、今日もよろしくお願いします。
  • Good evening, please take care of me today too.

When to Switch Between Greetings

Special Cases

First Meeting of the Day

In workplaces, people often use おはようございます even in the afternoon if it's their first greeting of the day:

• Starting an afternoon shift: おはようございます！
• Meeting a colleague for the first time that day: おはようございます。

Phone Calls

On the phone, you typically don't use time-based greetings. Instead, use:

• もしもし (moshi moshi) - Hello (phone only)
• お忙しいところすみません (o-isogashii tokoro sumimasen) - Sorry to bother you when you're busy

Cultural Context and Etiquette

Bowing While Greeting

In Japan, greetings are often accompanied by a bow (お辞儀, ojigi):

Response Patterns

When someone greets you, respond with the same greeting:

• A: おはようございます！
• B: おはようございます！

Workplace Greetings

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Using the Wrong Time Greeting

❌ Using こんにちは early in the morning ✅ Use おはよう/おはようございます before 11 AM

2. Being Too Casual

❌ Using おはよう with your boss ✅ Use おはようございます in formal situations

3. Forgetting to Respond

❌ Staying silent when greeted ✅ Always respond with the same greeting

4. Pronunciation Errors

❌ Saying "kon-ni-chi-HA" (pronouncing は as "ha") ✅ Say "kon-ni-chi-WA" (は is pronounced "wa" in greetings)

Practice Scenarios

Scenario 1: You arrive at work at 8:30 AM and see your manager. Your greeting: おはようございます。

Scenario 2: You meet a friend for lunch at 1 PM. Your greeting: こんにちは！

Scenario 3: You enter a restaurant at 7 PM. Your greeting: こんばんは。

Scenario 4: Your Japanese neighbor greets you with "おはようございます" at 9 AM. Your response: おはようございます。

Beyond Basic Greetings

Once you're comfortable with daily greetings, you can add these phrases:

Morning

• おはよう！今日もいい天気ですね。
  • Morning! Nice weather today, isn't it?

Afternoon

• こんにちは、お元気ですか？
  • Hello, how are you?

Evening

• こんばんは、今日もお疲れ様でした。
  • Good evening, thanks for your hard work today.

Learning Tips

1. Practice Daily

Set phone reminders to practice the appropriate greeting for each time of day.

2. Watch Japanese Media

Notice how characters greet each other in anime, dramas, or YouTube videos.

3. Use Greeting Apps

Many language apps have greeting practice sections.

4. Shadow Native Speakers

Listen to native speakers and repeat their intonation.

Quick Reference Chart

Conclusion

Mastering Japanese daily greetings is your gateway to meaningful conversations. Remember:

• Time matters: Use the right greeting for the right time
• Context matters: Choose formal or casual based on the situation
• Practice matters: The more you use them, the more natural they become

Start using these greetings today, and you'll quickly feel more confident in your Japanese conversations!