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ご機嫌よう (ごきげんよう) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Meanings 1
interjection
hello ; good day ; nice to see you
usually written using kana alone
A polite, somewhat formal greeting used when meeting someone. Often associated with refined or traditional speech, and commonly heard in settings like tea ceremony or among older speakers. Can be used at any time of day.
お 客きゃく 様さま に 「 ご 機き 嫌げん よう 」 と 挨あい 拶さつ する 。
Greet the guest with 'hello'.
2
interjection
farewell ; goodbye ; take care
usually written using kana alone
A polite, somewhat formal farewell. Like the greeting sense, it carries a refined or traditional tone. Often used when parting after a visit or social occasion.
Written forms ご 機き 嫌げん よう
Standard kanji-kana mixed spelling; the most common written form.
御ご 機き 嫌げん 好よ う
rarely-used kanji form
Rarely used kanji form; the kanji 好 is an ateji for the sound よう.
Kanji 機 loom, mechanism, machine 御 honorable, manipulate, govern 好 fond, pleasing, like something Similar words こんにちは A standard, neutral greeting used during the day. ご機嫌よう is more formal and traditional, and can be used at any time.
さようなら A standard, neutral farewell. ご機嫌よう as a farewell is more formal and carries a refined, somewhat old-fashioned nuance.
Etymology Derived from ご機嫌 (go-kigen, 'your mood/health') + よう (yō), a contraction of よく (yoku, 'well'). Originally a wish for someone's good health or mood, it evolved into a greeting and farewell. The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the expression is associated with polite, traditional speech.
