Greet using these
Useful Japanese Phrases

The following is a list of the useful Japanese phrases for greetings.

Useful Japanese Phrases

You will use these phrases often when you first meet your Japanese friends or when you travel to Japan. Take some time to go through the list. I am sure you will find it useful.

Probably the first Japanese phrase that you will learn is こんにちは (konnichiwa). It means Hello or Good afternoon. So start saying konnichiwa to your friends.

Some of these useful Japanese phrases may seem complicated for beginners.

For example there are several meanings for the phrase すみません (sumimasen). In this case just remember it with the meaning of "Excuse me" when asking for help.

Let's check out what are the useful Japanese phrases in the following list.

Kanji/Hiragana
Romaji
Meaning
1. お早うございます
ohayou gozaimasu
Good morning
2. こんにちは
konnichiwa
Hello/Good afternoon
3. こんばんは
konbanwa
Good evening
4. ようこそ
youkoso
Welcome (aboard)
5. さようなら
sayounara
Good bye (This is only used if you are leaving for a long time, like going overseas)
6. また明日
mata ashita
See you tomorrow
7. ではまた
dewa mata
See you
8. すみません
sumimasen
Excuse me (when asking for something)
9. すみません
sumimasen
I am sorry (for my fault)
10. すみません
sumimasen
Pardon me (for missing what you said)
11. すみません
sumimasen
Thank you (for taking the trouble to do... for me)
12. ごめんなさい
gomen nasai
I am sorry
13. 失礼ですが
shitsurei desuga
Excuse me, but... (when asking for something)
14. ありがとうございます
arigatou gozaimasu
Thank you very much
15. どういたしまして
dou itashimashite
You are welcome/Don't mention it/Not at all
16. どうぞ
douzo
Here you are. (Used when offering something to someone)
17. どうも
doumo
Well, thanks
18. お休みなさい
oyasumi nasai
Good night
19. おめでとうございます
omedetou gozaimasu
Congratulations
20. お元気ですか
ogenki desu ka
How are you?
21. はい、おかげさまで
元気です
hai, okagesamade
genki desu
Yes, due to your kind thought, I am very good
22. 大丈夫ですか
daijoubu desu ka
Are you OK?
23. 大丈夫です
daijoubu desu
I am OK
24. はじめまして
hajimemashite
How do you do? (Literally "I am meeting you for the first time". This Japanese phrase is usually used as the first phrase when introducing oneself)
25. マイクと申します
maiku to moushimasu
My name is Mike (Assuming your name is Mike)
26. どうぞよろしくお願いします
douzo yoroshiku
onegaishimasu
I am pleased to meet you. (Literally "Please make good relation with me" or "Please be kind to me". Usually used at the end of a self-introduction)
27. こちらこそよろしく
お願いします
kochira koso yoroshiku onegaishimasu
I am please to meet you too. (Literally "Please be kind to me too")
(Response to "どうぞよろしくお願いします")
28. これからお世話になります
korekara osewani narimasu
I hope for your assistance hereafter.
(Literally "Please take care of me hereafter")
29. ごめんください
gomenkudasai
Anybody home?/May I come in?
(An expression used by a visitor)
30. いらっしゃい
irasshai
How nice of you to come/Welcome
31. どうぞお上がりください
douzo oagari kudasai
Please come in (the house)
32. お邪魔します
ojamashimasu
Excuse me for disturbing you
(Greeting used when going to someone's house)
33. お名前は
o namae wa
What is your name?
(The "お" in front makes the question more polite)
34. いただきます
itadakimasu
You say this to express your gratitude before meals
35. ごちそうさまでした
gochisou sama deshita
You say this to express your gratitude after meals
36. 行ってきます
ittekimasu
I am going out now. See you later
(Phrase used when going out from home)
37. 行ってらっしゃい
itterasshai
Take care. Have a nice day (Response to "行ってきます", used by people in the house)
38. ただいま
tadaima
I am home (Phrase used when coming back to home)
39. お帰りなさい
okaerinasai
Welcome back (Response to "ただいま", used by people in the house)
40. お気をつけて
o ki wo tsukete
Be careful
41. お大事に
o daiji ni
Take care of your body (say this to friend who is sick)

These are just some of the useful Japanese phrases collected so far. In future I will add more to this list when I find more useful Japanese phrases.

Although it's impossible for you to become perfect Japanese speaker just by remembering these phrases, learning some useful phrases in Japanese will definitely help you in many situations.

You will find them useful when you are meeting native Japanese in the airport, hotels, restaurants, etc.

Lastly, let's learn one more useful phrase: 道中ご無事に (dou chuu go buji ni) - Bon voyage!

If you want to learn more phrases so that you can talk to people at the bus or train stations, make sure you check out these phrases that help you communicate well at those places.

By the way, this link above is an affiliate link, which means that I would earn a commission if you do end up purchasing the related learning course. It's at no extra cost to you, and please if you have any questions related to this learning course, please let me know and I would be happy to answer them for you.

 

 

Buy me a coffee

Like This Page?

Facebook Comments

Don’t see the comments box? Log in to your Facebook account, give Facebook consent, then return to this page and refresh it.
Enjoy this page? Please tell others about it. Here's how...

Would you prefer to share this page with others by linking to it?

  1. Click on the HTML link code below.
  2. Copy and paste it, adding a note of your own, into your blog, a Web page, forums, a blog comment, your Facebook account, or anywhere that someone would find this page valuable.