🇯🇵 Japanese phrases

How to Say "Good evening" in Japanese

The SPAIKING TeamJuly 27, 2026
こんばんは
"Good evening" in Japanese · say it like kon-ban-wa

The most natural way to say "Good evening" in Japanese is こんばんは. Tap the speaker above to hear it, then say it back out loud. That is the fastest way to make it stick.

Other ways to say it

今晩は
This is a more formal way to say it, often used in writing.

When to use it

Use this greeting in the evening when meeting someone. It is appropriate for both formal and casual situations. You can use it when entering a room or starting a conversation after sunset.

Say it out loud, get corrected

Reading it is not the same as saying it. Practice "Good evening" and thousands more with an AI coach that listens.

Examples in Japanese

JapaneseEnglish
こんばんは、今日はどうでしたか?Good evening, how was your day?
Common mistake
Some learners mistakenly use 'おはようございます' (ohayou gozaimasu) which means 'good morning' instead of 'こんばんは' for evening.

The fastest way to remember it

Vocabulary you only read fades fast. Vocabulary you say out loud sticks. Hear こんばんは, repeat it a few times, then use it in a real sentence. SPAIKING lets you practice exactly that, speaking Japanese with a coach that corrects your pronunciation in real time. You can start with two free conversations.

Frequently asked questions

When should I stop using 'こんばんは'?

You should stop using it after midnight, as it is specifically for the evening.

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