TooterHow to say hello in Japanese
Hello in Japanese is こんにちは (konnichiwa), the polite daytime greeting for people you don't know well. Say おはようございます (ohayō gozaimasu) in the morning, こんばんは (konbanwa) in the evening and もしもし (moshi moshi) on the phone. To say hi to friends, use おはよう (ohayō) or just their name.
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Where will you say hello?
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Every way to say hello
Japanese greetings change with the time of day and the person. With strangers in the daytime, こんにちは is always safe.
The daytime hello for neighbors, shop staff and people you meet. Rarely used between friends, family or coworkers. The last kana は is read wa.
Until about 10 or 11 a.m., and the first greeting at work each morning. Often spelled ohayo gozaimasu.
Once it gets dark. Like こんにちは, it ends in は read wa.
Only the first time you meet someone, followed by your name and よろしくお願いします (yoroshiku onegaishimasu).
Mostly for personal calls, and to check that the other person can still hear you. Not used face to face, and business calls are usually answered with the company name instead.
The everyday hello between coworkers once the morning greeting is done, when you pass in a hallway or join a call. Reading: おつかれさまです.
A quick, slightly vague hi with a nod to someone you know a little. It also means thanks.
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Saying hello to someone new
Meeting a new neighbor in the afternoon.
How to pronounce and use こんにちは
Hold the double n
Say it in five even beats: ko-n-ni-chi-wa. The n before ni gets its own beat, which is why the romaji has two n's. Konichiwa, with one n, is a common misspelling.
Read the last kana as wa
こんにちは ends in the particle は, pronounced wa. It comes from 今日は, "as for today", the start of an old longer greeting. You will see こんにちわ in casual texts, but こんにちは is the standard spelling.
Match the time of day
Use おはようございます until about 10 or 11 a.m., こんにちは through the afternoon and こんばんは once it gets dark. There is no konnichiwa gozaimasu: of these greetings, only おはよう takes ございます.
Save it for people outside your circle
Between friends こんにちは sounds stiff, and families almost never say it. At home people say ただいま (tadaima, I'm home) and おかえり (okaeri, welcome back), and coworkers use お疲れ様です. With a neighbor or a shop owner, add a small nod as you say it.
How to say hi in Japanese to friends
With friends, konnichiwa sounds a little formal. These are what people actually say, and often a friend's name and a smile are enough.
- casualおはようohayōMorning!
With friends, family and classmates in the morning. In texts, often stretched to おはよー.
- casualやあyāHey / Hi
A light hey, used more by men. It is rare in everyday conversation and can sound a little theatrical, like a line from a manga.
- slangやっほーyahhōHiya!
Playful and cheerful, mostly young people and texts. Often romanized yaho. It is also the call people shout from mountaintops.
- slangおっすossuYo / Hey
A rough, energetic hi between male friends, common in sports clubs. Keep it to people you are very close to.
- casual久しぶりhisashiburiLong time no see
For a friend you haven't seen in a while. The polite form is お久しぶりです (ohisashiburi desu).
- casual元気？genki?How are you? / You doing OK?
Asked when you haven't seen someone for a while, not every time you meet. Reply 元気だよ (genki da yo, I'm good).
- casualお疲れotsukareHey (good work today)
The short form of お疲れ様です, between classmates, teammates and coworkers of the same level.
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@learningwith.emmaQuestions learners ask
What is hello or hi in Japanese?
Hello is こんにちは (konnichiwa), the polite daytime greeting. To say hi to a friend, use おはよう (ohayō) in the morning, お疲れ (otsukare) after class or work, or simply their name.
How do you pronounce konnichiwa?
Say it in five even beats, ko-n-ni-chi-wa, holding the n before ni and reading the final は as wa. Keep the pitch fairly level instead of stressing one syllable. Tooter's AI tutors listen as you say it and correct your pronunciation.
Is it konnichiwa or ohayo?
It depends on the time. おはよう (ohayō, often spelled ohayo) or the polite おはようございます is for the morning, and こんにちは (konnichiwa) is for late morning through the afternoon.
Is it polite to say konnichiwa?
Yes. こんにちは is polite enough for strangers, shop staff and older people. It just feels a bit distant with family, close friends and coworkers you see every day.
Does moshi moshi mean hello?
Yes, but only on the phone. もしもし (moshi moshi) is how you answer a personal call or check that someone can still hear you. In person, use こんにちは.
What are the basic Japanese greetings?
Five cover most situations: おはようございます (good morning), こんにちは (hello), こんばんは (good evening), はじめまして (nice to meet you) and お疲れ様です (the coworker hello). A small nod or bow goes with each.
Can you still say good morning at 11 a.m. in Japanese?
Usually people switch to こんにちは around 10 or 11 a.m., so 11 is borderline. Some workplaces, like restaurants and TV studios, use おはようございます as the first greeting of any shift, even in the evening.
How do you say hi in a cute way in Japanese?
やっほー (yahhō) is the classic cheerful, cute hi, popular in texts. Stretching the vowel, as in おはよー, also sounds friendly and playful. Save both for friends.
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Updated October 29, 2026. Tooter tutors are AI characters, not human teachers. Romanization follows Hepburn romanization.