Japanese Greetings in English
If you've been looking for a list of Japanese greetings in English, then this is the page for you! We've got hellos, goodbyes, timely greetings like good morning, good evening, and good night.
This page also contains translations of terms used when entering or leaving a home and translations used when people are leaving the office. There's also a video featuring a common greeting term Okaeri near the bottom of the page, so you want to check that out, then definitely do so before you leave.
English to Japanese Greetings
Words in bold added during the last update. You can also view these greetings from Japanese to English.
Quick links:
Hellos from English to Japanese
English to Japanese Timed Greetings
Goodbyes from English to Japanese
English to Japanese Office Greetings
English to Japanese Terms for Entering and Leaving a Home
Hellos from English to Japanese
Welcome ➔ Youkoso
Hello ➔ Moshi moshi / もしもし (Used when answering the telephone)
Nice to meet you ➔ Hajimemashite / はじめまして
It's been a while ➔ Ohisashiburi desu / おひさしぶりです
English to Japanese Timed Greetings
Good Morning
Good morning ➔ Ohayou (gozaimasu)* / おはようございます
Good morning to all. ➔ Minna-san, ohayou.
Good morning, everyone. ➔ Ohayou minna-san.
Good morning, everyone. ➔ Ohayou gozaimasu minna-san. (More formal)
Good morning all. ➔ Ohayou minna. (More informal)
Good Afternoon
Hello / Good day / Good afternoon ➔ Kon'nichiwa / こんにちは
Good Evening
Good evening ➔ Konbanwa / こんばんは
Good evening, everyone. ➔ Minna-san, konbanwa.
Good evening to all. ➔ Konbanwa, minna-san.
Good Night
Good night ➔ Oyasumi (nasai)* / おやすみなさい (Said to those going to bed)
Good night, everyone. ➔ Oyasumi minna-san.
* gozaimasu (ございます) and nasai (なさい) added for politeness. Minna-san added when talking to a group of people.
Goodbyes from English to Japanese
Good bye ➔ Sayounara / さようなら (More final, for longer absences)
See you later. ➔ Ja mata ne.
See you later. ➔ Mata atode.
Well, see you later. ➔ Sore dewa, mata ne.
Later / See ya ➔ Ja ne
See you tomorrow then. ➔ Ja, mata ashita.
Well, see you tomorrow. ➔ Sore dewa, mata ashita.
Have a good day. ➔ Yoi ichi nichi wo.
English to Japanese Office Greetings
I'm leaving first ➔ Osaki ni (Said by those leaving the office)
Thanks for all your hard work ➔ Otsukare sama deshita (Response to 'osaki ni')
English to Japanese Terms for Entering and Leaving a Home
I'm off ➔ Ittekimasu (Said by those who are leaving the house, to those who are staying)
Take care ➔ Itterashai (Said by those who are staying in the house, to those who are leaving)
I'm home ➔ Tadaima / ただいま (Said when returning home)
Welcome home ➔ Okaeri (nasai)* / おかえりなさい (Response to 'tadaima')
Sorry to bother you ➔ Ojamashimasu (Said when entering someone else's home)
* nasai (なさい) added for politeness.
*English to Japanese greetings last updated: January 15, 2025.
Japanese Greetings in Songs
Ayaka - Okaeri
If you want to hear a Japanese greeting in its natural habitat, then why not listen to the song Okaeri, by Ayaka from the channel aaa color coded lyrics. Okaeri means welcome home and is said in response to 'tadaima', which means I'm home. This video includes the kanji, romaji, and English lyrics so you can easily follow along with the words.
Next Up
Common Japanese Words and Phrases: Learn how to say common words and phrases in Japanese.
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