Japanese Greeting
Japanese greetings are called 挨拶 (Aisatsu), and they’re one of the first things you should study when learning Japanese, right after learning hiragana and katakana. The greeting is considered as one of basic manner in the Japanese community. In the Japanese language, there are various greeting phrases according to the situation or season.
表現ノート (Expression Notes)
- · Good Morning ( Used up until about 11 am )
おはよう (Ohayou) is the informal way to say “Good morning” in Japanese.
おはようございます(Ohayou gozaimasu) is the formal way to say to someone (i.e. not your friend).
- · Good Afternoon / Hello
こんにちは (Kon ni chi wa)
- · Good Evening
こんばんは (Kon ban wa)
- · Goodbye
さようなら (Sayonara) is a standard Japanese farewell. Sayonara has the connotation of saying goodbye for a long time. So it’s not usually something you would say to a classmate or coworker at the end of the day (unless you plan on not seeing them for a long, long time).
- i. Saying farewell to a friend in Japanese (Casual speech)
- If you’re talking to a friend and you do not know when you will meet your friends again.
じゃあね (Jaa ne) See you!
またね (Mata ne) See you!
じゃあ、また (Jaa, mata) See you!
バイバイ(Bai bai) Bye bye!
- If you have made plans with your friends and you know when you will meet them again,
またあした (Mata ashita) "Literally: Again tomorrow" See you tomorrow!
またらいしゅう(Mataraishuu) "Literally: Again next week " See you next week!
- ii. A formal way to say goodbye in Japanese (Completing work / Leaving workplace)
- In business situations, different expressions are used that emphasize the hard work done by all that day.
おつかれさまでした (Otsukaresama deshita) is used in the working place, expresses the appreciation of your co-workers’ hard work when you leave for the day. "Thank you for your hard work” or “You worked hard”.
おさき に しつれい します (Osaki ni shitsurei shimasu) is used in the working place, expresses the regret to leave before your colleagues still working. "Literally: I’m rude to leave before you”.
- If you are talking to a person of higher status, farewells such as these are used:
きょう わ ありがとう ございました (Kyou wa arigatou gozaimashita) Thank you very much for today.
それでわ、 しつれい します(Soredewa, shitsurei shimasu) Please excuse me.
また ぜひ (Mata zehi) is expressed “By all means, please, I’d love to” for the next time.
- · Goodnight
おやすみなさい (Oyasuminasai)
You might say this when you’re actually going to bed.
· Thank you
Use this chart to say thank you in Japanese based on a situation’s contextual formality (from least formal to most formal):
どうも (Dōmo) Thanks
ありがとう (Arigatō) Thank you
どうもありがとう (Dōmo arigatō) Thanks a lot
ありがとうございます (Arigatōgozaimasu) Thank you
どうもありがとうございます(Dōmo arigatōgozaimasu) Thank you very much
Domo and Arigatou tend to have similar formality levels expressed in quite casual situations; however, Domo is used more often between male speakers and is less often heard among Japanese women. Arigatou is really the way to express a friendly casual thank-you in Japanese. Adding gozaimasu signifies a more formal situation, the distance between the speakers and is typically used in business encounters.
すみません (Sumimasen) "Literally: Thank you for your trouble"
Sumimasen (excuse me), like its Gozaimasu counterpart, is also used in formal situations to express the desire to thank someone for all the trouble they went through to help you.
おそれいります (Osoreirimasu) Thank you for your troubles
The very formal phrase that used to thank someone for the trouble they went through to help you.
* Notes: Actually, I'm just want to share a simple word, likes ありがとう (Arigatō). But I thought maybe I should add something else for this part because when I read the manga or watch anime, the words will always be different. So I searched on the internet and found the most suitable explanation. I have studied it, and it really helps me. So I want to share it with you. I just pick out the most important part, but you can read it at http://cotoacademy.com/thank-you-in-japanese-arigato/ for the full explanation. Trust me, it really helpful.
- · Apologizing
すみません (Sumimasen) is a pretty versatile word, and you’ll be hard-pressed to live in Japan without hearing it at least once a day. It can have a few meanings:
“Excuse me,” to get someone’s attention.
“I’m sorry,” to apologize for the trouble you have caused.
“Thank you,” to show appreciation for what one has done for you.
Don’t worry too much about when to use Sumimasen. You should pick it up quite naturally; because of how often it is used. It also based on your tone when you express it.
ごめん (Gomen) is a very informal apology that you should only use with close friends and family. It's slang for Gomennasai in a short form.
ごめんなさい (Gomenasai) is a formal apology. That means it sounds formal but you can only use it with people you have a close relationship with. In other words, don't try Gomenasai on your boss.
ごめん ね (Gomen ne) can be loosely translated "I'm sorry okay?".
* Notes: I don't know whether it true or not. It says that Gomen ne sounds girly. Likes, say Gomen ne when you're 5 minutes late meeting your girlfriends for afternoon tea. Seriously, I'm sorry if it was not true. Please correct me if you know the true answer.
- · No
いいえ (Iie) means “No” in Japanese. Iie can also be used to say “Don’t mention it,” or “You’re welcome,” when pointing out that someone doesn’t need to feel indebted for what you’ve done for them.
E.g.
When someone says,
ありがとうございます (Arigatōgozaimasu) Thank you
You can reply it with,
いいえ (Iie) You are welcome
- · Leaving And Coming Home
- i. Leaving Home
いってきます (Ittekimasu) Literally: “See you later” or “I am going” or “I am off”.
いってらしゃい (Itterasshai) Literally: “See you later” or “Have a good day” or “Take care”.
- ii. Coming Home
ただいま (Tadaima) Literally: “I came home right now”
おかえりなさい (Okaerinasai) Literally: “Welcome home” or “Welcome back”
- · Self-introduction
はじめまして (Hajimemashite) "Nice to meet you" is used to first meeting with someone only. If you already meet that person, you don't need to say it again.
- · Before And After Eating
- i. Before Eating
いただきます (Itadakimasu) the phrase one is supposed to say just before tucking into a meal. Literally: “I take!”. While it sounds a little blunt and self-serving in English, it’s not hard to understand that this honorific phrase is used to express gratitude to the food.
- ii. After Eating
ごちそおさま でした (Gochisoosama deshita) "Thank you for the meal.
- · Encouraging
- i. Don’t give up!
あきらめないで (Akiramenaide) is a soft-spoken, sounds almost like you are saying “Please don’t give up!”. Often used by girls or women.
あきらめるな (Akirameruna) is often used by boys or men.
- ii. Good Luck!
In Japanese, we often say がんばれ (Ganbare) or がんばってね (Ganbattene) when you want to wish someone good luck.
がんばってこい (Ganbatte koi) is often used by men.
がんばっておいで (Ganbatte oide) is often used by parents to children or teachers to students.
When someone says がんばって ください (Ganbatte kudasai), you can reply with がんばります(Ganbarimasu).
- iii. You are the best!
あなたさいこう (Anata saiko) is often used by women.
おまえはさいこうだ (Omaewa saikoda) is often used by men, often from father to children.
- iv. That’s so cool!
すてき (Suteki) is often used by women.
すごいな (Sugoina) is used by everyone.
* Notes : I think I know why Sensei don't want us to use her note. It took me almost 3 days to finish this note. I hope all of this note can help you. Please correct me if there is something wrong.
