Greetings
Basic greetings for meeting and parting, plus the welcomes and send-offs you hear in shops and hotels.
- おはよう ohayō Good morning Casual
- こんにちは konnichiwa Hello / Good afternoon Neutral
- おやすみ oyasumi Good night Casual
- いらっしゃいませ irasshaimase Welcome (said by staff to a customer) Polite
- ようこそお越しくださいました yōkoso okoshi kudasaimashita Welcome, and thank you for coming Polite
- またお越しくださいませ mata okoshi kudasaimase Please come again Polite
The level of politeness changes with the person and the situation. When in doubt, the polite form is the safe choice. A phrase marked with two levels, such as “Neutral / Casual,” is used in both kinds of situations.