🇯🇵 Japanese phrases

How to Say "Hi" in Japanese

The SPAIKING TeamJuly 27, 2026
こんにちは
"Hi" in Japanese · say it like kon-ni-chi-wa

The most natural way to say "Hi" in Japanese is こんにちは. 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

やあ
Casual greeting among friends
おはようございます
Formal greeting used in the morning

When to use it

Use こんにちは during the day as a standard greeting. It is appropriate in both casual and formal settings. Avoid using it late at night, as it may not be suitable. For morning greetings, use おはようございます instead.

Say it out loud, get corrected

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Examples in Japanese

JapaneseEnglish
こんにちは、元気ですか?Hello, how are you?
Common mistake
Some learners use こんにちは in the evening, which is not appropriate.

The fastest way to remember it

Vocabulary you only read fades fast. Vocabulary you say out loud sticks. Hear こんにちは, 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

Is こんにちは used in the morning?

No, it is typically used from late morning to early evening.

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