21 Ways to Say Hello in Japanese (Formal and Casual Greetings)

Greetings in Japan change depending on the situation and who you’re talking to. A cheeky ‘Yahhō!’ may not always be the best option, however fun it is to say! It’s important to know the greeting’s pronunciation and its cultural etiquette, as well as just memorising the words.

This handy guide to saying ‘hello’ in Japanese will help you to navigate any social occasion in Japan with a friendly and suitable greeting – whether it’s formal, friendly, or even a bit flirty.

We also asked our ALTs (Assistant Language Teachers) for some everyday etiquette tips.

The Most Common Japanese Greetings

How do you say ‘hello’ in Japanese?

1. ‘Hello’ or ‘Good Afternoon’ in Japanese: こんにちは – Konnichiwa

The most well-known Japanese greeting, konnichiwa is used in polite or professional situations. It’s usually said in the afternoon rather than first thing in the morning or late at night. It’s less common among close friends and relatively rare among native speakers.

2. ‘Hi’ in Japanese: やあ- Yaa

A casual greeting similar to ‘hi’ in English, commonly said alongside a person’s name, to grab their attention. Often used between friends and sometimes paired with someone’s name, you can also use it in informal situations if you don’t know someone’s name.

3. ‘Good morning’ (formal) in Japanese: おはようございます – Ohayō gozaimasu

If you happen to be greeting someone in the morning, using おはようございます, or ‘good morning’, may be the Japanese greeting for you. The key with this phrase is to use both words when you are speaking to someone you don’t know, or in a formal setting.

4. ‘Good morning’ (informal) in Japanese: おはよう – Ohayō

If you’re meeting friends or family, or just hanging out with someone informally, it’s common to drop the ‘gozaimasu’ part of the phrase and simply say ‘Ohayō’. However, it’s worth playing it safe with greetings until you gain some more contextual understanding.

‘With kids, I usually just say ‘やあ 元気’ or ‘Yā genki’, which means ‘Hey, how are you?’ – it’s friendly and informal. To my principal or senior teachers, I usually stick with ‘おはようございます’ or ‘Ohayō gozaimasu’, which means ‘Good morning’ – better to be safe than sorry!’ 

 

– ALT in Osaka

Common Casual Japanese Greetings

5. ‘Hey’ in Japanese: おす – Osu

Just like in English, the translation for ‘hey’ in Japanese is used more informally. However, there are some key differences between the English version and the Japanese version.

For one, おす, or ‘Osu’, is masculine and so is only generally used by men when speaking to their friends in informal settings. It’s also only really said when you have already got the attention of your conversation subject, so you would not begin your conversation like this!

6. ‘Hiya’ in Japanese: ヤッホ – Yahhō

ヤッホ, or ‘Yahhō’, is yet another way of saying hello in Japanese. Translating to ‘yoohoo’ or ‘hiya’, it is a playful expression, often used by young people to greet each other informally.

7. ‘Yo’ in Japanese: よ – Yo

8. ‘Long time no see’ in Japanese: お久しぶりですね – O-hisashiburi desu ne

If you haven’t seen someone for an extended period of time, you can use the Japanese translation for ‘long time no see’. This greeting can be used with anyone, regardless of formality or social context, although it’s less commonly used in informal settings.

9. ‘It’s been a while’ in Japanese: 久しぶり – Hisashiburi

‘Hisashiburi’, is simply a more casual and shortened way of saying ‘long time no see’.

10. ‘Good evening’ in Japanese: こんばんは – Konbanwa

こんばんは, or ‘Konbanwa’, which means ‘good evening’ in English, is used in the evening. However, it’s usually used in polite and formal situations, rather than with close friends. 

11. ‘Nice to meet you’ in Japanese: はじめまして- Hajimemashite

Usually said when meeting someone in Japan for the first time, はじめまして, or ‘Hajimemashite’, translates roughly to ‘nice to meet you’ in English. A common way to employ this greeting would be to say the person’s name after first saying the greeting.

12. ‘Nice weather?’ in Japanese: いい天気ですね – Ii tenki desu ne

Fancy something a bit more situational with your Japanese greeting? Why not try saying いい天気ですね, or ‘li tenki densu ne’, which will allow you to make reference to the weather. 

Knowing Japan’s changeable climate, it’s something that you may be using regularly!

How do you say ‘how are you’ in Japanese?

13. ‘How are you?’ in Japanese: お元気ですか。- O-genki desu ka

To say ‘how are you’ in Japanese, you’ll want to use お元気ですか。 , or ‘O-genki desu ka’. It’s pretty formal, and this phrase also roughly translates to ‘are you in good shape?’.

14. ‘How’s it going?’ in Japanese: どうよ – Dou yo

どうよ, or ‘dou yo’, is the phrase for ‘How’s it going?’ in Japanese. This is a more informal greeting, and is typically only said among friends, particularly when speaking on the phone.

15. What’s up?’ in Japanese: 最近どう – Saikin dō

‘What’s up?’ is a very informal way of greeting in English, and it’s no different in Japanese. You’d only use a ‘Saikin dō’ in a very casual way when speaking to someone close. 

However, if you wish to use this phrase in a formal setting, it is possible to add ‘desu ka’ to the end, which would make it suitable to use with someone you don’t know so well.

16. ‘How do you do?’ in Japanese: どうも – Doumo

Like many words in Japanese, どうも, or ‘doumo’, has a variety of different meanings. However, it is suitable for use as a ‘hello’ in Japanese, and translates to ‘how do you do?’. It’s relatively formal so you may choose to greet your boss or colleague with this phrase.

17. ‘How have you been?’ in Japanese: いかがお過ごしですか – Ikaga o sugoshi desu ka

Last on our list of ways to say ‘how are you’ in Japanese is いかがお過ごしですか , or ‘ikaga o sugoshi desu ka’. This is a very formal greeting which is mostly used in written rather than verbal Japanese (particularly for emails). It is also another acceptable way to say hello.

Saying ‘hello’ in specific situations

18. ‘Hello’ (on the phone) in Japanese: もしもし – Moshi Moshi

もしもし, or ‘moshi moshi’, is unique as it’s pretty much only used when speaking to someone on the phone. It can be said both when receiving or sending the call, but it’s quite rare to hear it in day-to-day life. Just remember to go outside to answer your phone!

19. ‘Welcome’ in Japanese: いらっしゃいませ – Irasshaimase

いらっしゃいませ, or ‘irasshaimase’, is only used in one type of setting: when people are welcoming you into their business. Although you may never have to use this yourself, you may hear it going into restaurants, shops or other places where people are serving you. 

20. ‘I’m back’ in Japanese: ただいま – Tadaima

If you are coming home and want to announce your return, ただいま, or ‘tadaima’, is the way to go. You’ll usually be greeted back with お帰り, or ‘Okaeri’, which means ‘welcome back’. 

21. ‘Hello’ (English alternative) in Japanese: ハロ – Haroo

Lastly, perhaps the easiest greeting to grasp of all, ハロ, or ‘haroo’, is simply the word Japanese people, usually children, have adapted from the English word ‘hello’. So don’t be surprised if you get a few friendly ‘haroo’s shouted your way during your time in Japan.

Examples of greeting conversations in Japanese

Formal greeting at work

Casual with friend

Meeting after a while (casual/flirty)

‘Don’t worry if you get a greeting wrong – Japanese people often appreciate the effort more than perfection. A simple ごめんなさい (Gomen nasai) or すみません (Sumimasen) can work well if someone seems offended or surprised. Smile, apologise, and try again!’

– ALT in Kyoto

The Last Word on Saying Hello in Japanese

We hope you have enjoyed this comprehensive guide to saying hello in Japanese. Mastering Japanese greetings can help you feel more confident in everyday life – whether you’re teaching in a classroom, meeting colleagues, or chatting with new friends in Japan.

For more tips on Japanese culture, language, and life as a teacher, explore our blog. Or read our guides to How to Say ‘Yes’ in Japanese and How to Say ‘I Love You’ in Japanese.

FAQs

How do you say hello in Japanese casually?

Casual ways to say hello in Japanese include やあ (yaa), おはよう (ohayō) in the morning, and よ (yo) among close friends.

Is konnichiwa formal or informal?

Konnichiwa is a neutral greeting mainly used in polite or professional situations rather than with close friends.

Do Japanese people use ‘hello’ in English?

Some Japanese people, especially children, use ハロー (harō), which is adapted from the English word ‘hello.’