Translation guide
The English greeting "HI" is a casual, friendly way to say hello. In Japanese, the equivalent depends heavily on the time of day, the relationship between speakers, and the situation. There is no single direct translation that works in all contexts.
A friendly, informal greeting used when meeting someone, similar to 'hello'.
The standard daytime greeting. It is slightly formal but widely used in casual settings as well. Not typically used among very close friends or family in informal situations.
Hi, how are you?
A very casual 'hi' or 'hey', used mainly by men or in informal settings among friends. Not used in formal situations.
A casual, shortened greeting that can mean 'hi', 'thanks', or 'sorry' depending on context. Often used as a quick, friendly acknowledgment.
A very casual, masculine greeting used among close male friends. Similar to 'yo' or 'sup'.
Greetings that change based on the time of day, which are more common in Japanese than a generic 'hi'.
Good morning (casual). Used until around 10-11 AM. The polite form is おはようございます.
Expressing 'hi' when reuniting after some time, often with a nuance of 'long time no see'.
Greetings used in texts, chats, or online messages.
Often used in messages regardless of time, similar to 'hi' in English texts. Can be used at any hour in casual digital communication.
A quick 'hi' when you see someone but don't stop for a conversation, or to acknowledge their presence.
A versatile, casual acknowledgment. Can be used as a quick 'hi' when passing by.
There is no single Japanese word that perfectly matches the casual, all-purpose 'hi'. Using こんにちは at night or こんばんは in the morning will sound odd. Pay attention to time of day and relationship.
Saying 'konnichiwa' at night is unnatural.
Hi, how are you?
Hey, long time no see.
Hey, we meet again.
Yo, how's it going?
Morning, did you sleep well?
Good morning (polite). Used in formal settings or with superiors.
Good morning, I look forward to working with you today.
Good evening. Used after sunset. It is neutral in politeness and can be used in most situations.
Good evening, sorry I'm late.
Literally 'long time', used as 'long time no see'. Can be combined with a greeting like やあ or お久しぶりです for politeness.
Long time no see! How have you been?
Polite version of 久しぶり. Suitable for acquaintances or superiors.
It's been a while, have you been well?
Hey, are you free today?
Standard daytime greeting, also used in messages. Slightly more formal than おはよう in this context.
Hi, thanks for the message.
A cute, playful 'hi' often used by young people or in casual online chats. Similar to 'hiiii' or 'heyoo'.
Hiiii, how are you?
(While passing by) Hi.
A slight bow or nod as a non-verbal greeting. Often used in situations where speaking is not necessary or appropriate.
We exchanged nods in the hallway.
These three are the most common time-based greetings. おはよう (casual) / おはようございます (polite) is used in the morning. こんにちは is used during the day. こんばんは is used in the evening/night. Among friends, おはよう can be used at any time in casual messages.
Sometimes I send 'ohayou' to friends even at night.
In Japanese, it's common to simply say the person's name or title as a greeting, especially when seeking attention or acknowledging them. This can replace 'hi' in many contexts.
Hi, Mr. Tanaka!
Hi, long time no see!
Hi, I'm home!
Used when returning home, not a direct translation of 'hi' but the natural phrase in this context.