In English, we say good morning all the way up to about noon.

However, in Japanese, ohayou gozaimasu literally means “it is early,” so if you use it too far after 10am, you might have people wondering how late you get up.

In English, we use “hello” as an all-purpose greeting anytime of the day or night, but in Japanese, konnichi wa is a daytime greeting. Be sure to honor the double consonant when pronouncing this greeting.

Besides being used in the literal sense when wishing someone a good night before going to bed, oyasumi nasai is used frequently to say goodbye to someone at night.

Hajimemashite and douzo yoroshiku are two set phrases that people say when meeting someone for the first time. Pick one that you want as your own personal phrase for when you meet new people.

• Literally, hajimemashite means “in beginning (this relationship)”
• Douzo yoroshiku means something like “best regards going forward” or “thanks in advance.”

In a formal setting, when two people meet for the first time, they bow to each other from the waist. Men keep their arms at their side, fingers stretched out flat, as the bow. Women put their hands together in front of their lap. This bow is called o-jigi.

• Normally, the person who is of lower social status bows more deeply.
• Social status has to do with age, employment, and position in employment.

Continue to Next Page:

Questions and Responses