Japanese Greetings in English
If you've been looking for a list of Japanese greetings in English, then this is the page for you!
This page contains three Japanese greetings lists, each translated with the English first to Japanese. The first list contains several ways to say hello, the second list contains several ways to say goodbye, and the third list provides translations of terms used when entering or leaving a home.
Notes: Words in bold added during the last update. You can also view these greetings from Japanese to English.
Saying hello (English to Japanese):
Welcome ➔ Youkoso
Good morning ➔ Ohayou (gozaimasu)* / おはようございます
Good morning to all ➔ Minna-san, ohayou
Hello / Good day / Good afternoon ➔ Kon'nichiwa / こんにちは
Good evening ➔ Konbanwa / こんばんは
Good evening, everyone ➔ Minna-san, konbanwa
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
* gozaimasu (ございます) added for politeness.
Saying Goodbye (English to Japanese):
Good bye ➔ Sayounara / さようなら (More final, for longer absences)
Good night ➔ Oyasumi (nasai)* / おやすみなさい (Said to those going to bed)
See you later ➔ Ja matane
Well, see you later ➔ Sore dewa, matane
Well, later then ➔ Ja matte ne
Later / See ya ➔ Ja ne
Well, see you tomorrow ➔ Sore dewa, mata ashita
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')
Have a good day ➔ Yoi ichi nichi wo
* nasai (なさい) added for politeness.
Japanese terms used when entering or 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.
*List of greetings last updated: March 4, 2018.
Comprehension:
Can you answer these questions about Japanese greetings?
1. What is the translation of itterashai in English?
2. What is the Japanese translation of good evening?
3. What is the Japanese translation of good afternoon?
4. What is the Japanese translation of good day?
5. How do you say see you tomorrow in Japanese?
6. Translate hello into Japanese.
7. Translate goodbye into Japanese.
8. How do you say welcome in Japanese?
9. Translate good morning into Japanese.
10. What is the English translation of sore dewa, mata ashita?
11. What is the meaning of otsukare sama deshita in English?
12. Translate おやすみなさい.
13. What is the meaning of ojamashimasu in English?
14. What does oyasumi nasai mean in English?
15. What is the translation of moshi moshi in English?
16. Translate おはようございます.
17. What is the English meaning of osaki ni?
Next Up
Common Words and Phrases: Learn how to say common words and phrases in Japanese.
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