Which one should you use?
While こんにちは is used for the daytime, you should use おはようございます (ohayou gozaimasu) for morning greetings and こんばんは (konbanwa) for evening greetings.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
こんにちは is a standard, polite greeting that is suitable for most social situations, such as when speaking to acquaintances or strangers. For contrast, おはよう (ohayō) is a casual version of a morning greeting used among friends and family and おっす！ (Ossu!) is a very informal, energetic greeting used between close friends.
How does it change in a sentence?
In the word こんにちは, the final syllable is written with the character は (ha) but is pronounced as wa.
How do you pronounce it?
konnichiwa
When do people say it?
When meeting a customer, it is customary to bow slightly while saying こんにちは to convey professionalism and goodwill.
Did you know?
- The word こんにちは originally began as the first part of a longer sentence meaning 'today is…', usually followed by a comment about the weather.
- While it is a standard greeting, saying こんにちは to a close friend or a younger sibling can actually feel strangely formal and distant.
- In Japanese business culture, the depth of your bow while saying こんにちは communicates the level of respect you have for the other person.
Examples in context
- こんにちは。Good day!This sentence shows the use of こんにちは as a standalone greeting.Tatoeba #373351 by tommy_san, translation #855284 by pirytm
- こんにちは！お元気ですか？Good day, how are you?This sentence shows how to use こんにちは when asking how someone is.Tatoeba #541923 by bunbuku, translation #415678 by blay_paul
- こんにちは。間違いでなければ、こちらに最近越してこられた方ですよね？Good day! You are our new neighbor, if I am not mistaken?This sentence shows こんにちは used when addressing a new neighbor.Tatoeba #2270761 by Ianagisacos, translation #1077740 by keira_n
- 3 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Yui and Yota pass each other on a sunny street in the afternoon.
- 結衣 Yuiこんにちは、陽太さん。Konnichiwa, Yota-san.Hello, Yota.
- 陽太 Yotaこんにちは、結衣さん。Konnichiwa, Yui-san.Hello, Yui.
- 結衣 Yui今日はいい天気ですね。Kyou wa ii tenki desu ne.It is nice weather today, isn't it?
- 陽太 Yotaそうですね。Sou desu ne.It certainly is.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry こんにちは, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
