Greetings fellow students of the Japanese language!
How are those Kanji studies coming along?
Remember to keep on practising! There’s no room for slacking here…
After last week’s intensive study presentation, I thought it’d be nice to take some time to relax. This blog we’ll be studying traditional Japanese greetings! Both greeting and parting phrases are highly important in Japanese culture. It’s a good thing to know your greetings so you don’t appear to be ignorant/idiotic!
Let’s dive in, shall we?
Ohayou gozaimasu (Good Morning)
Pretty self-explanatory. Use when greeting someone in the morning. It’s important to note that the “u” in “masu” is practically silent. Basically it just puts more emphasis on the “s”.
goh-zah-ee-mah-sss
Konnichi wa (Good Afternoon)
Again, self-explanatory. Used in afternoon/daytime.
Koh-n-ni-chi-wah
Konban wa (Good Evening)
Greeting used during the evening/nightime.
koh-n-bahn-wah
Oyasuminasai (Have a good rest, goodnight)
Said right before bedtime.
oh-yah-sue-mee-nah-sah-ee
Douzo yoroshiku (I ask that you treat me kindly)
This is a strange one, but it’s what you say after meeting someone for the first time. Essentially the English equivalent of “Nice to meet you”. It sounds weird to say “I ask that you treat me kindly” when translated, but you have to remember it’s perfectly normal in Japan. Note: The Japanese don’t pronounce “R” the same way. The Japanese “R” is almost a cross between a “D” and an “L”
Doh-oo-zoh-yoh-(r)oh-shi-koo
Ogenki desu ka? (Are you well?)
The equivalent of “how re you going”. Pretty self-explanatory. Don’t forget about those silent U’s!
oh-gehn-ki-deh-sss-kah
Hai, genki desu. (Yes, I’m well)
Said in reply to “Ogenki desu ka?”
High-gehn-ki-deh-sss
Sayounara/Sayonara (Goodbye)
Said when parting ways with someone for an extended period of time.
Sigh-yo-nah-(r)a
Ittekimasu (I’m leaving, but I’ll be back)
This is usually said when leaving one’s own home.
The second “t” is nearly silent. It’s as a sort of “half syllable”
Eat-tehk-ee-mah-sss
Itterasshai (Have a good time. See you later)
Said in response to Ittekimasu.
Eat-teh-rah-shy
Tadaima (I’m Home)
Said when you arrive home.
Tah-Die-Mah
Okaerinasai. (Welcome Home)
Said in response to Tadaima.
Oh-kah-(r)ee-nah-sigh
We’ll leave it at that. 🙂
They are hundreds (if not over 9000) traditional Japanese greetings/phrases, but this should give you a good start. Use them at a moments notice to surprise your friends, family, neighbors, and/or enemies!
Until next time, keep practicing that Kanji!
-Cubensis