You're standing in a quiet convenience store in Osaka, or maybe you've just walked into a bustling izakaya in Shinjuku. You want to be polite. Your brain scrambles for that one word you learned back in middle school or from a quick Google search. You say "Konnichiwa" with a hopeful smile. The clerk nods quickly, maybe looks a bit surprised, and moves on.
You didn't do anything "wrong," per se. But here’s the kicker: if it’s 9:00 AM, you sounded weird. If it’s your first time meeting a potential business partner, you might have been too casual. If it’s your best friend, you sounded like a textbook.
Learning how do you say hi in japanese isn't just about memorizing a vocabulary list. It’s about reading the room. Japanese is a high-context language, which is a fancy way of saying that who you are talking to and when you are talking to them matters just as much as the words coming out of your mouth.
The Konnichiwa Myth
Most people think Konnichiwa is the universal "hello." It isn’t.
In reality, native speakers don't use it nearly as much as foreigners think they do. Konnichiwa (今日 は) literally translates to "as for today," which is the start of a sentence that was historically followed by a wish for a good day. Over time, it got shortened. Today, it functions as a mid-day greeting, usually used between 10:30 AM and roughly 5:00 PM or sunset.
If you say Konnichiwa to your coworkers at 8:00 AM, they’ll think you’re late. If you say it to your spouse when you wake up, they’ll think you’re joking or maybe that you’ve had a stroke. It’s a bit stiff. It’s "safe," sure, but it’s rarely the most natural choice.
Morning, Noon, and Night: The Time-Based Rulebook
Japanese society runs on a clock. Your greeting needs to match the sun.
Ohayou Gozaimasu (Morning)
Before 10:30 AM, this is your go-to. If you’re talking to a boss, a teacher, or someone you don't know well, use the full Ohayou gozaimasu. If you’re talking to your brother or a close friend, just Ohayou is fine. Interestingly, in the world of entertainment or certain service industries, people say Ohayou regardless of the time. Why? Because it’s the first time they are seeing each other for that "work day." It’s a quirk of the industry.
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Konbanwa (Evening)
Once the sun starts dipping, Konnichiwa retires and Konbanwa takes over. This is strictly for greeting people, not for saying goodbye. You’ll hear this a lot as people enter restaurants or meet up for dinner.
The Silent Greeting
Honestly? Sometimes saying nothing is the most "Japanese" way to say hi. In a crowded elevator or a hallway where you pass a neighbor, a deep, silent bow or a sharp "nod" with the head is often preferred over a verbal greeting. It acknowledges the other person's presence without forcing them into a conversation they might not want to have.
How Do You Say Hi in Japanese When You’re With Friends?
When you’re hanging out in Shibuya or playing video games online, the formal stuff goes out the window. If you walk up to a group of Japanese teenagers and say Konnichiwa, they’ll probably think you’re a lost tourist or a very polite missionary.
- Osu! – This is super masculine and very "tough guy." You’ll hear it in martial arts dojos or between male athletes. It’s a contraction of Ohayou gozaimasu.
- Yaho! – This is more feminine or childish. It’s high-energy, bubbly, and very casual.
- Yo! – Yes, Japanese people use "Yo." It’s borrowed, it’s easy, and it works perfectly among young people.
- Saikin dou? – This is basically "What’s up?" or "How's it been lately?" It moves the interaction immediately into a conversation.
Actually, the most common casual greeting is often just the person's name followed by a question. Instead of saying "Hi, Ken," a Japanese friend might just say "Ken-kun, genki?" (Ken, you good?).
Business Etiquette and the "Politeness Ceiling"
If you’re wondering how do you say hi in japanese in a professional setting, discard everything you just read about "Yo" and "Yaho."
In an office, the most common greeting isn't even a "hello." It’s Otsukaresama desu.
This phrase is the Swiss Army knife of Japanese business. It literally means "You are tired" or "Thank you for your hard work." You say it when you arrive at the office. You say it when you pass someone in the hall. You say it when you finish a phone call. It acknowledges that everyone is part of the same team, working hard toward a goal.
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If you are meeting a client for the first time, you use Hajimemashite (Nice to meet you). This is the "start" of your relationship. You follow it with Yoroshiku onegaishimasu, which is one of those untranslatable phrases that basically means "Please treat me well" or "I am looking forward to our future interactions."
Without these phrases, a simple "Hi" feels naked and slightly rude in a Japanese boardroom.
The Phone Factor: Moshi Moshi
You’ve probably heard Moshi Moshi in anime. Don't use it in person. It’s strictly for the phone. It comes from the verb mousu (to say), and it’s repeated twice to prove to the person on the other end that the line is working and that you are a human, not a ghost. Folklore used to suggest that ghosts couldn't say "Moshi" twice. While modern Japanese people don't actually believe in "phone ghosts," the linguistic habit stuck.
Common Misconceptions That Make You Look Like an Amateur
One of the biggest mistakes learners make is thinking they can just translate English phrases literally.
For instance, in English, we often say "How are you?" as a greeting. In Japanese, O-genki desu ka? is technically "How are you?", but you don't say it every day. You only say it if you haven't seen someone for a long time—weeks or months. If you say it to your coworker every morning, they’ll wonder if they looked particularly sickly the day before.
Another trap? The bow.
People often think they need to bow deeply while saying hi. While bowing is essential, doing a full 45-degree "apology bow" while saying a casual Ohayou is confusing. For a standard greeting, a 15-degree tilt of the torso is plenty. Keep your back straight. Don't look at the ground like you’re searching for a lost contact lens; keep your neck in line with your spine.
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Regional Slang: Saying Hi in Osaka
If you head down to the Kansai region (Osaka, Kyoto, Nara), the vibe changes. People are generally considered "louder" and more outgoing. While they still use standard Japanese, you might hear Maido in shops. It’s short for Maido arigatou gozaimasu (Thank you every time), but it’s used as a sort of "Hello, thanks for coming in again." It’s the sound of Osaka commerce.
Why Tone and Pitch Matter More Than Spelling
Japanese is not a tonal language like Chinese (where the meaning of a word changes based on the "shape" of the sound), but it does have pitch accent.
When you ask how do you say hi in japanese, you have to consider the "musicality" of the word. Konnichiwa should generally have a flat or slightly rising intonation at the end. If you drop the pitch too hard at the end, you might sound depressed or even angry.
Japanese listeners are very sensitive to the "energy" or ki of a greeting. A quiet, mumbled Ohayou suggests you didn't sleep well or are unhappy to be there. A crisp, clear greeting—even if your pronunciation isn't perfect—goes a long way in building wa (harmony).
Actionable Steps for Your Next Interaction
If you’re traveling to Japan or meeting Japanese speakers, here is how you should actually handle your greetings to avoid looking like a total novice:
- Check the Clock First: Use Ohayou gozaimasu until 10:30 AM. Switch to Konnichiwa until the streetlights come on. Use Konbanwa for the rest of the night.
- The Power of the Nod: When in doubt, a small, respectful nod of the head is better than a loud, misplaced "Hello."
- Watch Your Suffixes: Never just say hi and use a name without a suffix. It’s "Tanaka-san, Konnichiwa," never just "Tanaka, Konnichiwa."
- Learn the Shop Greeting: When you walk into a store, the staff will yell Irasshaimase! (Welcome!). Do not say it back. It’s a one-way greeting. Just give a small nod or ignore it; saying "Konnichiwa" back to a clerk yelling Irasshaimase is a classic "I’m a tourist" move.
- Mirror the Energy: If someone bows to you, bow back at a similar depth. If they are casual, you can be casual.
The most important thing to remember is that Japanese people are generally very forgiving of foreigners trying to learn the language. They know Japanese is hard. They know the social rules are a labyrinth. If you say Konnichiwa at 9:00 PM, nobody is going to be offended. But if you get it right—if you hit that Konbanwa just as the sun sets over the Tokyo skyline—you stop being just another tourist and start becoming someone who actually understands the culture.
Start small. Tomorrow morning, even if it's just to your mirror, practice a crisp Ohayou gozaimasu. Notice how it feels to start the day with a formal acknowledgement of the time. That's the first step to mastering the nuance of Japanese social interaction.