Translation guide
A casual greeting used in informal situations. Japanese equivalents vary by time of day, level of politeness, and context.
To greet someone informally, similar to 'hi' or 'hey' in English.
A very casual 'hi' or 'hey', used among friends or in relaxed settings. Can sound overly familiar if used with strangers.
Hey, how are you?
Standard 'hello' used during the day. More polite than 'やあ' but still common in casual contexts.
A very casual, abbreviated greeting. Can mean 'hi', 'thanks', or 'sorry' depending on context. Often used alone.
A very informal, masculine greeting used among close male friends, similar to 'yo' or 'sup'.
To say 'hi' in a way that acknowledges the time of day, which is common in Japanese.
Casual 'good morning'. Used until around 10-11 AM. Among close friends, can be used at any time of day as a casual greeting.
Morning! Did you sleep well?
Standard 'good evening'. Used from around sunset onwards.
To call out to someone casually, like 'hey' or 'hi there'.
Casual 'hey' used to get someone's attention. Can be used with friends or family.
Hey, listen to this.
Literally 'a little', but used as 'hey' or 'excuse me' to get attention. Often combined with 'すみません'.
Hesitation sound used to get attention politely, like 'um, excuse me'.
To reply to someone who has said 'hi' or similar.
In Japanese, it's common to simply repeat the greeting you received. For example, if someone says 'おはよう', you reply 'おはよう'.
A: Hi. B: Hi.
A casual, all-purpose response that can mean 'hi' back, especially if the other person used 'どうも' first.
A: Hey. B: Hey.
While 'こんにちは' is a standard greeting, using it repeatedly with close friends can feel stiff. Opt for 'やあ', 'おはよう' (even in the afternoon), or just a nod/smile.
A slight bow often accompanies greetings in Japan, even casual ones. The depth of the bow depends on the formality of the situation.
Hi, nice weather, isn't it?
Hey, long time no see.
Yo, what are you up to?
Hi, good work today.
Polite 'good morning'. Used with colleagues, acquaintances, or in formal settings.
Good morning, I look forward to working with you today.
ちょっと、そこの人！
Hey, you there!
Um, excuse me.