Essential Japanese Greetings: 30 Phrases You'll Use Daily
Introduction
Japanese has politeness levels built into the grammar — what you say to a friend differs from what you say to a stranger or a boss. As a traveller, you don’t need to master all of it, but knowing the right register for the right situation makes a huge difference in how you’re received.
This guide covers the 30 phrases you’ll actually use, organised by context.
The first 6 (start here)
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| こんにちは | konnichiwa | Hello (afternoon) |
| ありがとうございます | arigatō gozaimasu | Thank you (polite) |
| すみません | sumimasen | Excuse me / sorry |
| はい | hai | Yes |
| いいえ | iie | No |
| お願いします | onegaishimasu | Please |
If you only memorise 6 phrases, make it these.
Time-of-day greetings
| Japanese | Romaji | When |
|---|---|---|
| おはよう | ohayō | Good morning (casual) — until ~10:30 AM |
| おはようございます | ohayō gozaimasu | Good morning (polite) |
| こんにちは | konnichiwa | Hello (~11:00 AM to dusk) |
| こんばんは | konbanwa | Good evening (after dark) |
| おやすみなさい | oyasumi nasai | Good night (before sleeping) |
Don’t say “konnichiwa” at 8 AM — it sounds wrong. Use ohayō.
Thanks and apologies
| Japanese | Romaji | When |
|---|---|---|
| ありがとう | arigatō | Thanks (casual) |
| ありがとうございます | arigatō gozaimasu | Thank you (polite) |
| どうもありがとう | dōmo arigatō | Thanks a lot |
| すみません | sumimasen | Excuse me / I’m sorry / thanks for the trouble |
| ごめんなさい | gomen nasai | I’m sorry (more sincere apology) |
| 失礼します | shitsurei shimasu | Excuse me (when leaving / interrupting) |
Restaurant essentials
| Japanese | Romaji | Use |
|---|---|---|
| いらっしゃいませ | irasshaimase | (Welcome) — staff says this, you don’t reply |
| 〜お願いします | ~ onegaishimasu | I’d like ~ |
| これをください | kore o kudasai | I’ll have this (pointing at menu) |
| メニューをください | menyū o kudasai | Menu, please |
| 水をください | mizu o kudasai | Water, please |
| お会計お願いします | okaikei onegaishimasu | The check, please |
| ごちそうさまでした | gochisōsama deshita | Thanks for the meal (when leaving) |
| いただきます | itadakimasu | (Said before eating) |
Shopping and asking
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| いくらですか | ikura desu ka | How much is it? |
| これは何ですか | kore wa nan desu ka | What is this? |
| 英語のメニューありますか | eigo no menyū arimasu ka | Do you have an English menu? |
| カードで払えますか | kādo de haraemasu ka | Can I pay by card? |
| 領収書ください | ryōshūsho kudasai | Receipt, please |
| 大丈夫です | daijōbu desu | I’m OK / no thanks (decline politely) |
Getting around
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 〜はどこですか | ~ wa doko desu ka | Where is ~? |
| 駅はどこですか | eki wa doko desu ka | Where is the station? |
| トイレはどこですか | toire wa doko desu ka | Where’s the toilet? |
| 道に迷いました | michi ni mayoimashita | I’m lost |
| 助けてください | tasukete kudasai | Please help |
Yes / no / soft refusal
Japanese culture avoids direct “no”. Be aware:
| Japanese | Romaji | Real meaning |
|---|---|---|
| はい | hai | Yes (or “I’m listening” — not always agreement) |
| いいえ | iie | No (formal — used carefully) |
| ちょっと… | chotto… | (literally “a little”) = soft no |
| 難しいです | muzukashii desu | (literally “it’s difficult”) = no |
| 大丈夫です | daijōbu desu | I’m OK / no thanks |
| 結構です | kekkō desu | No thanks (polite refusal) |
If a Japanese person says “chotto” or trails off, it’s usually a no.
Self-introduction
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 初めまして | hajimemashite | Nice to meet you (first meeting) |
| 〜と申します | ~ to mōshimasu | My name is ~ (very polite) |
| 〜です | ~ desu | I’m ~ (casual) |
| よろしくお願いします | yoroshiku onegaishimasu | Looking forward to working with you / nice to meet you |
| アメリカから来ました | amerika kara kimashita | I’m from America |
Bowing — when, how much
| Situation | Bow angle |
|---|---|
| Greeting in shops, restaurants | Slight nod, ~10° |
| Meeting someone formally | 15-30° |
| Apology, formal thanks | 30-45° |
| Deep apology, very formal | 45° (occasionally 90° in extreme cases) |
As a tourist, a slight nod is enough almost everywhere. Don’t over-bow — it can come across as awkward or sarcastic.
Politeness levels (just enough to know)
Japanese has 3 main levels:
| Level | Usage | Verb form |
|---|---|---|
| Casual | Friends, family | iku (go), taberu (eat) |
| Polite (-masu) | Strangers, shops, work | ikimasu, tabemasu |
| Keigo (super-polite) | Customer service, business | irasshaimasu, meshiagarimasu |
As a learner, stick to polite (-masu) form for everything. You’ll never offend.
Common mistakes
- Saying “konnichiwa” before 11 AM — say ohayō
- Replying to “irasshaimase” — staff doesn’t expect a reply
- Bowing while shaking hands — pick one (Japanese formal: bow only)
- Saying “domo” alone — sounds gruff; say domo arigatō or skip it
- Saying “watashi wa…” for everything — Japanese drops pronouns when context is clear
Cultural context
- Japanese praises through actions, not words — over-thanking can feel awkward
- “Sumimasen” 5+ times in a conversation is normal
- Saying nothing is often acceptable — silence isn’t uncomfortable like in Western cultures
Summary
Memorise the first 6 phrases before you fly. Add “menu, please” and “the check, please” before you eat. Add “where is the station” before you travel by train. You can survive a 2-week trip with ~15 phrases — and locals will appreciate every attempt.
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