How to Say Hello in Japanese
Learn how to say hello in Japanese. 'Konnichiwa' (こんにちは) is the daytime greeting, but Japanese greetings change by time of day. Pronunciation guide + bowing etiquette.
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Quick answer
To say hello in Japanese, say 'Konnichiwa' (こんにちは, kon-nee-chee-wah) — the standard daytime greeting, used roughly from late morning to evening. Japanese greetings change with the time of day: 'Ohayō gozaimasu' (good morning), 'Konnichiwa' (afternoon), and 'Konbanwa' (good evening). A polite bow traditionally accompanies the greeting.
こんにちは
/kon-nee-chee-wah/ — Japanese
How to Say Hello in Japanese
Japanese greetings are tied closely to the time of day and to a culture of politeness and respect. The famous Konnichiwa is your daytime hello — but it’s just one of several greetings you’ll want to know.
The Daytime Greeting: Konnichiwa
こんにちは — Konnichiwa — pronounced kon-nee-chee-wah
Used roughly from late morning through to early evening. A small bow or nod traditionally accompanies it.
Copy the Phrase
The Japanese word for hello is こんにちは (Konnichiwa, kon-nee-chee-wah).
Pronunciation Notes
Four even syllables: kon-ni-chi-wa.
- The double n (kon-ni) is held slightly longer
- Each syllable gets roughly equal stress — Japanese has no heavy stress accent like English
- Although written with は (the character “ha”), it’s pronounced “wa” here, because は is functioning as a grammatical particle
Japanese Greetings by Time of Day
Unlike English, Japanese has no single all-hours “hello.” You match the time:
| Japanese | Romaji | Pronunciation | When |
|---|---|---|---|
| おはようございます | Ohayō gozaimasu | oh-ha-yoh go-zai-mas | Good morning (formal) |
| おはよう | Ohayō | oh-ha-yoh | Good morning (casual) |
| こんにちは | Konnichiwa | kon-nee-chee-wah | Hello / good afternoon |
| こんばんは | Konbanwa | kon-ban-wah | Good evening |
| おやすみなさい | Oyasuminasai | oh-yah-soo-mee-nah-sai | Good night (bedtime) |
What Konnichiwa Literally Means
Konnichiwa (こんにちは) literally means roughly “as for today…” It’s a fragment of a longer historical greeting like “Konnichi wa gokigen ikaga desu ka?” (“How are you feeling today?”). Over centuries, the rest fell away, leaving just konnichiwa as a complete hello.
Casual & Informal Greetings
| Japanese | Romaji | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| やあ | Yaa | Hey (casual) |
| おっす | Ossu | Hey (very casual, youthful) |
| よー | Yō | Yo (casual) |
| ハロー | Harō | ”Hello” (borrowed English, playful) |
Bowing Etiquette
In Japan, a bow (お辞儀, ojigi) traditionally accompanies greetings:
- A small nod or slight bow is polite for everyday greetings
- Deeper bows show greater respect or formality
- As a visitor, a small respectful nod while saying Konnichiwa is perfect — it shows cultural awareness without overdoing it
On the Phone
When answering the phone, Japanese speakers say もしもし (Moshi moshi, moh-shee moh-shee) — used only on the telephone, never face to face.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you pronounce Konnichiwa?
'Konnichiwa' is pronounced kon-nee-chee-wah (こんにちは). Four even syllables: kon-ni-chi-wa. Note the double 'n' (kon-nichi) is held slightly. Importantly, although it's written with は (the 'ha' character), it's pronounced 'wa' here because は acts as a grammatical particle. Each syllable gets roughly equal stress — Japanese has no strong stress accent like English.
What does Konnichiwa literally mean?
'Konnichiwa' (こんにちは) literally means something like 'as for today...' or 'this day...' — it's a shortened greeting that originally began a longer phrase like 'today is...' (konnichi wa gokigen ikaga desu ka — 'how are you today?'). Over time the rest dropped away, leaving just 'konnichiwa' as a complete daytime hello.
What is the Japanese greeting for each time of day?
Japanese greetings are time-specific: 'Ohayō gozaimasu' (おはようございます, oh-ha-yoh go-zai-mas) = good morning (formal); 'Ohayō' = casual good morning; 'Konnichiwa' (こんにちは) = hello/good afternoon (late morning to early evening); 'Konbanwa' (こんばんは, kon-ban-wah) = good evening. There's no all-purpose 'hello' that works at every hour like English — you match the time of day.
How do you say hi informally in Japanese?
Casual greetings among friends: 'Yaa' (やあ — hey), 'Ossu' (おっす — a very casual 'hey,' more masculine/youthful), 'Yo' (よー — yo, casual), and among young people the English-borrowed 'Hai' or even 'Haro' (ハロー, from 'hello'). But 'Konnichiwa' is never wrong. With close friends you might just use their name plus a casual greeting.
Do you bow when saying hello in Japan?
Yes — bowing (お辞儀, ojigi) traditionally accompanies greetings in Japan. A small nod or slight bow is common and polite for casual greetings; deeper bows show greater respect or formality. You don't need to bow dramatically as a visitor — a small, respectful nod while saying 'Konnichiwa' is appreciated and shows cultural awareness. Handshakes are also increasingly common in business.