6. Greetings


For ease of use on the Internet, the Romanization of each phrase is also shown. Look at the pronunciations and Romanization page for detail.

English:Hello. / Good afternoon.
Hiragana:(ko)(n)(ni)(ti)(ha)(period)
Phonemes:koNnitiwa'*1
Romanization:Konnichiwa.

Note: Using this phrase for your family is strange.
*1: This is a special single-hiragana postposition whose hiragana is (ha) /ha/ but whose actual phoneme is (wa) /wa/.


English:Good bye.
Hiragana:(sa)(yo)(u)(na)(ra)(period)
Phonemes:sayounara'
Romanization:Sayônara.

Note: In colloquial Japanese, this phrase is often shortened to (sa)(yo)(na)(ra) /sayonara'/.


English:Good morning.
Hiragana:(o)(ha)(yo)(u)(go)(za)(i)(ma)(su)(period)
Phonemes:ohayou(space)gozaima'su
Romanization:Ohayô gozaimasu.

Note: The phrase shown here is polite. You can simply say (o)(ha)(yo)(u) /ohayou'/ if politeness is not required. It should be the first greeting between you and a person you talk to in the morning. You cannot use it twice a day for the same person.


English:Good evening.
Hiragana:(ko)(n)(ba)(n)(ha)(period)
Phonemes:koNbaNwa'*1
Romanization:Kombanwa.

Note: Using this phrase for your family is strange.
*1: This is a special single-hiragana postposition whose hiragana is (ha) /ha/ but whose actual phoneme is (wa) /wa/.


English:Good night.
Hiragana:(o)(ya)(su)(mi)(na)(sa)(i)(period)
Phonemes:oyasuminasa'i
Romanization:Oyasuminasai.

Note: This phrase is used only when you are expected to go to bed in a few hours, perhaps past 9 p.m. or so. It should be the last greeting between you and a person you talk to in the night. You cannot use it twice a day for the same person.


English:Thank you very much.
Hiragana:(a)(ri)(ga)(to)(u)(go)(za)(i)(ma)(su)(period)
Phonemes:ari'gatou(space)gozaima'su
Romanization:Arigatô gozaimasu.

Note: The phrase shown here is polite. You can simply say (a)(ri)(ga)(to)(u) /ari'gatou/ if politeness is not required.

You can add the word (do)(u)(mo) /do'umo/ before them, such as (do)(u)(mo) (a)(ri)(ga)(to)(u) (go)(za)(i)(ma)(su) /do'umo ari'gatou gozaima'su/ and (do)(u)(mo) (a)(ri)(ga)(to)(u) /do'umo ari'gatou/. The word (do)(u)(mo) /do'umo/ itself can be used as a simple version of "Thank you".


English:You are welcome. (as a reply to thank you)
Hiragana:(do)(u)(i)(ta)(si)(ma)(si)(te)(period)
Phonemes:do'u(space)itasima'site
Romanization:Dô itashimashite.


English:(none)
Hiragana:(i)(ta)(da)(ki)(ma)(su)(period)
Phonemes:itadakima'su
Romanization:Itadakimasu.

Note: It's a good manner to say this phrase before you eat. The literal translation is "I begin to eat", but it actually means "Thank you for the meal".


English:(none)
Hiragana:(go)(ti)(so)(u)(sa)(ma)(de)(si)(ta)(period)
Phonemes:gotisousamade'sita
Romanization:Gochisôsamadeshita.

Note: It's a good manner to say this phrase after you eat. The literal translation is "It was a delicious meal", but it actually means "Thank you for the meal".


English:I'm sorry.
Hiragana:(go)(me)(n)(na)(sa)(i)(period)
Phonemes:gomeNnasa'i
Romanization:Gomennasai.

Note: Saying this phrase does not necessarily mean admitting that you are to blame. In Japanese culture, it is important to say some kind of apology before blaming someone.


English:Excuse me.
Hiragana:(su)(mi)(ma)(se)(n)(period)
Phonemes:sumimase'N
Romanization:Sumimasen.

Note: This phrase is similar to the previous one, but lighter in meaning. It is often used to talk to someone you don't know. In colloquial Japanese, it often becomes (su)(i)(ma)(se)(n) /suimase'N/.




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