How to speak Japanese?

The standard way of saying “hello” in Japanese is “konnichiwa,” but there are actually several Japanese phrases used to greet someone. Here are a few of the most helpful to know along with information about when to use them.

Say "konnichiwa" in most settingsThis is a fairly all-purpose greeting, and if you only memorize one version of “hello,” this should be it.

• You can use this greeting for anyone, regardless of social status.
• While there are separate greetings used during most periods of the day, this greeting also doubles as “good afternoon.”
• Pronounce this greeting as kohn-nee-chee-wah.

Answer the phone with "moshi moshiThis is the standard “hello” to use over the phone.

• Use this greeting whether you are the caller or the person being called. Moshi moshi is much more appropriate to use for phone conversations than konnichiwa.
• Do not use moshi moshi in person.
• Pronounce moshi moshi as mohsh mohsh.

morning. When greeting someone before lunch, this is the standard way to say “hello.”

o    Time-specific greetings are more significant in Japan than in the United States. While you can technically say “konnichiwa” in the morning, greeting someone with “ohayō gozaimasu” is much more common.

o    Pronounce this greeting as oh-hah-yoh goh-za-eye-mahs.

Use "konbanwa" in the evening. After dinner, you would begin greeting others with this phrase rather than “konnichiwa.”

As with other time-specific greetings, konbanwa is the standard greeting to use during the evening. You could use konnichiwa, but the latter is far less standard. Try "oyasumi nasai" at night.Late at night, well after dark, you could use this phrase as a greeting.

• Note that oyasumi nasai is more often used as a way of saying “good-bye” late at night rather than “hello,” even if it can be used as a “hello” greeting.
• When you are among friends, classmates, close family members, or anyone else with whom you can speak to familiarly, this phrase can also be shortened to oyasumi.
• This greeting is roughly pronounced as oh-yah-soo-mee nah-sai.
• Pronounce konbanwa as kohn-bahn-wuh.