JAPAN TELEPHONE DIRECTORY-iTOWNPAGE Live in Japan

Live in Japan

Basic Greetings

Using the telephone

Taxis

Shopping

Emergency situations such
as an injury or illness

Basic Greetings

Let's open up the communication doorway by using greetings that match the time, place and occasion.

Morning greeting

Ohayou(good morning)(casual)
Ohayou gozaimasu(good morning)(polite)

Greeting for afternoon until evening

Konnichiwa(Good afternoon)

Evening greeting

Konbanwa(Good evening)

Greeting used when you meet someone for the first time

Hajimemashite(How do you do?)

When saying goodbye

Sayounara(Goodbye)

Tanaka:	Smith san, ohayou. (Good morning, Mr. Smith.)
Smith:	Ohayou gozaimasu, Tanaka san. (Good morning, Mr. Tanaka.)
Tanaka:	Kyou wa iitenki desune. (Nice weather today, don't you think?)
Smith:	Soudesune. (Yes, it's grand.)

Smith:	Konbanwa Tanaka san. (Good evening, Mr. Tanaka.)
Tanaka:	Konbanwa. (Good evening.)
Smith:	Doko e ikunodesuka. (Where are you going?)
Tanaka:	Chotto konbini* made. (Just down to the convenience store.)

"Konbini" is short for "convenience store".

Greetings used in the home

There are various expressions that people in Japan use when they leave the house or return home, before and after meals and on other occasions.

When you leave the house, you say: Ittekimasu (I'm leaving now).

Response of the other family members to this:Itterasshai (See you later).

When you come back home, you say:
Tadaima (I'm home).

Response of the other family members to this:
Okaerinasai(Welcome home).

Before eating, you say: Itadakimasu (Thank you)

The person who prepared the meal responds: Douzo, meshiagare. (Please go ahead).

When you are finished eating, you say: Gochisousama (That was delicious).

The person who prepared the meal responds: Douitashimashite (Thank you).

A:	Gochisousama. Oishikatta! (Thank you. That was delicious!)
B:	Yokatta. (I'm glad you liked it.)
A:	Kono ryouri, kondomata tabetaina. (I'd sure like to eat this dish again.)
B:	Soredewa, mata tsukurimasu. (OK! Then I'll cook it again.)

A:	Ittekimasu. (I'm leaving now.)
B:	Itterasshai. Kyou wa hayaku kaette kitene. (Have a good day. Be sure to come home early this evening.)
A:	Hai, wakarimashita. (Sure, I will.)

Expressions of gratitude

Arigatou (Thank you) (casual)

Arigatou gozaimasu (Thank you very much) (polite)

Sumimasen(Although "Sumimasen" is a word of apology equivalent to "Excuse me," it is frequently used with the same meaning as "Arigatou", "Thank you")

A:	Chotto, otazune shitainodesuga. (Excuse me, please.)
B:	Hai. (Yes.)
A:	Eki wa dochiradeshou. (Can you tell me how to get to the station?)
B:	Eki wa konomichi wo massugu itte tsukiataridesu. (Just go straight down the road here. The station is at the end of the road.)
A:	Wakarimashita. Arigatou gozaimasu. (I see. Thank you very much.)

A:	Kore, Omiyage desu. (Here, I have a gift for you.)
B:	Itsumo sumimasen. (Thank you for always.)
A:	Anata no sukina monodesu. (It's something that you like.)
B:	Nani kana. Aketemo iidesuka? (I wonder what it is. Do you mind if I open it?)

A:	Osaifu wo otoshimashitayo. (Excuse me. You dropped your wallet.)
B:	Arigatou gozaimasu. (Thank you very much.)

Words of apology

Gomen-nasai (Excuse me, I'm sorry)

Sumimasen(Although "Sumimasen" is a word of apology equivalent to "Excuse me," it is frequently used with the same meaning as "Arigatou", "Thank you") (polite)

Shitsurei shimashita(Excuse me, I'm sorry)

Moushiwake arimasen(Excuse me, I'm sorry)

A:	Gomennasai. Koppu wo watte shimaimashita. (I'm so sorry. I broke the cup.)
B:	Daijobu desu. Abunai desukara sonomama ni shiteoite kudasai. (That's all right. It's dangerous. Just leave it there.)

(if you bump into someone)

A:	A, sumimasen. (Oh, excuse me.)
B:	Iie, daijoubu desu. (No problem.)

A:	Soko wa watashi no seki desuyo. (Excuse me but I think you're in my seat.)
B:	Hontoda. Boku no seki wa ushiro deshita. Shitsurei shimashita. (Well, so I am. My seat is back one. I'm sorry.)
B:	Iie, kinishinaide kudasai. (That's all right. Don't worry about it.)