Lesson 1: Japanese Greetings

Japanese Greetings 1

• おはよう (ございます)。 = Good morning. (polite)

  [ohayoo (gozaimasu)]

• こんにちは。 = Hello; Good afternoon.

  [konnichiwa¹]

• こんばんは。 = Good evening.

  [konbanwa¹]

• どうぞ よろしく。 = Nice to meet you.

  [doozo yoroshiku]

• はじめまして。 = How do you do?

  [hajimemashite]

• わたし の なまえ は _____ です。= My name is ____ .

  [watashi no namae wa ____ desu²]

• ありがとう (ございます)。= Thank you (polite).

  [arigatoo gozaimasu]

• どう いたしまして。= You're welcome.

  [doo itashimashite]

• すみません。= Excuse me/Sorry.

  [sumimasen]

• ごめんなさい。= Sorry.

  [gomennasai]

¹ - When は appears after a subject, it is pronounced wa.

² - Note about です: usually this word is pronounced dess, rhyming with the English word less.

Written Questions

Which greeting/phrase would you use in the following situations?

1. You see a neighbor at the bus stop during your morning commute.
2. You accidentally bump someone when rushing out of the elevator.
3. Somebody thanks you for picking up the pen they dropped.
4. You're meeting a new coworker for the first time.
5. Someone holds the elevator door for you.