First Words & Greetings
Learning Objectives
- Learn the standard daily greetings (Morning, Afternoon, Evening).
- Learn how to formally introduce yourself.
- Understand the nuances of saying 'Thank you'.
- Understand how to apologize and get someone's attention.
Japanese is a language heavily built on set phrases and polite expressions (aisatsu - 挨拶). Understanding these core phrases is essential, as they are used constantly in daily life. Most of these do not break down neatly into grammatical pieces—they are fixed expressions to be memorized as whole chunks.
1. Daily Greetings
The greeting you use changes depending on the time of day.
| Word | Romaji | Meaning | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| おはようございます | ohayou gozaimasu | Good morning | Greeting |
| こんにちは | konnichiwa | Good afternoon / Hello | Greeting |
| こんばんは | konbanwa | Good evening | Greeting |
| おやすみなさい | oyasuminasai | Good night | Greeting |
| さようなら | sayounara | Goodbye (long term) | Greeting |
[!WARNING] In “こんにちは (Konnichiwa)” and “こんばんは (Konbanwa)”, the final sound is “wa”, but it is written with the Hiragana character は (ha). This is a special particle rule we will explore in the next chapter!
2. Introductions
When meeting someone for the first time, there is a very specific sequence of phrases you should use.
はじめまして。
Hajimemashite.
Nice to meet you. (Literally: 'We are beginning.')
Use this only the very first time you meet someone.
よろしく おねがいします。
Yoroshiku onegaishimasu.
Please treat me well. / I look forward to working with you.
This is said at the end of an introduction. It has no direct English equivalent but is incredibly important in Japanese culture to show goodwill.
3. Gratitude & Apologies
Saying “thank you” and “I’m sorry” comes in varying levels of politeness.
| Word | Romaji | Meaning | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| ありがとう ございます | arigatou gozaimasu | Thank you very much (Polite) | Phrase |
| ありがとう | arigatou | Thanks (Casual) | Phrase |
| すみません | sumimasen | Excuse me / I'm sorry | Phrase |
| ごめんなさい | gomennasai | I am sorry | Phrase |
[!TIP] すみません (Sumimasen) is arguably the most useful word in Japanese! You can use it to apologize for a small mistake, to get a waiter’s attention at a restaurant (“Excuse me!”), or even to say a humble “thank you” when someone goes out of their way for you.
4. Eating Phrases
Japanese culture places high importance on expressing gratitude for meals. These phrases are said before and after eating.
いただきます。
Itadakimasu.
Let's eat. (Literally: 'I humbly receive.')
Said before you start eating your meal with your hands clasped together.
ごちそうさまでした。
Gochisousamadeshita.
Thank you for the meal. (Literally: 'It was a feast.')
Said after you have finished eating.
Conversation Practice
おはようございます。はじめまして。
Ohayou gozaimasu. Hajimemashite.
Good morning. Nice to meet you.
おはようございます。わたし は アンナ です。
Ohayou gozaimasu. Watashi wa Anna desu.
Good morning. I am Anna.
わたし は さとう です。よろしくおねがいします。
Watashi wa Satou desu. Yoroshiku onegaishimasu.
I am Sato. Please treat me well.
こちらこそ、よろしくおねがいします。
Kochirakoso, yoroshiku onegaishimasu.
Likewise, I look forward to working with you.
あ、すみません。コーヒー を どうぞ。
A, sumimasen. Koohii o douzo.
Ah, excuse me. Here is some coffee.
ありがとうございます。いただきます。
Arigatou gozaimasu. Itadakimasu.
Thank you very much. I will humbly receive it.
Chapter Summary
- 1Greetings change by time of day: おはようございます (Morning), こんにちは (Afternoon), こんばんは (Evening).
- 2Introductions start with はじめまして (Hajimemashite) and end with よろしくおねがいします (Yoroshiku onegaishimasu).
- 3すみません (Sumimasen) is highly versatile and means 'Excuse me' or 'I'm sorry'.
- 4Always say いただきます (Itadakimasu) before eating and ごちそうさまでした (Gochisousamadeshita) after eating.
Knowledge Check
Test your knowledge of these essential daily phrases!
Quiz
What is the correct greeting to use at 8:00 AM in the morning?