おはようございます
ohayō gozaimasu[o̞ha̠jo̞ː ɡo̞za̠ima̠sɨ̥]polite
The English phrase "good morning" is translated into Japanese as おはようございます (ohayō gozaimasu). Wiktionary also lists おはよう (ohayō) and おはようさん (ohayō san).
Meaning: when seeing someone for the first time in the morning (intj)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| おはようございます | ohayō gozaimasu | [o̞ha̠jo̞ː ɡo̞za̠ima̠sɨ̥] (narrow) | polite |
| おはよう | ohayō | [o̞ha̠jo̞ː] (narrow) | informal |
| おはようさん | ohayō san | Kansai |
This phrase is used when seeing someone for the first time in the morning. In many Japanese workplaces, おはようございます is used as a standard greeting when colleagues see each other for the first time that day, regardless of the actual time of day.
Which one should you use?
The short form おはよう is used with friends, family or people younger than you, while the long form おはようございます is used with superiors or strangers.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
おはようございます is the standard polite way to say good morning in professional or formal settings. The form おはよう is informal. There is also an even more informal version, おっはー, which can be used to say "G'morning!"
Is it said differently in some regions?
おはようさん is a regional variation used in the Kansai area.
How do you pronounce it?
ohayō gozaimasu
Did you know?
- In some Japanese industries like entertainment or hospitality, you might hear おはようございます at 10 PM if it is the first time you are seeing a coworker during their specific shift.
- Because おはよう is derived from an adjective meaning 'early', the phrase's roots are actually an observation of time rather than a wish for a 'good' day.
- The slang version おっはー became a massive pop-culture phenomenon in the 1990s and 2000s, often accompanied by a specific hand gesture waving near the cheek.
Examples in context
- おはよう諸君。Good morning, everybody.This sentence is useful for greeting a group of people with おはよう.Tatoeba #10908791 by small_snow, translation #22122 by CK
- 皆さんおはよう。Good morning, everyone.This sentence is useful for saying good morning to everyone with おはよう.Tatoeba #184991 by bunbuku, translation #22127 by CK
- トム、おはよう。Good morning, Tom.This sentence is useful for greeting a specific person named Tom with おはよう.Tatoeba #10033367 by small_snow, translation #2549163 by CK
- 44 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
At the entrance of an office in the morning.
- 大翔 Hiroto結衣さん、おはようございます。Yui-san, ohayou gozaimasu.Good morning, Yui.
- 結衣 Yui大翔さん、おはようございます。Hiroto-san, ohayou gozaimasu.Good morning, Hiroto.
- 大翔 Hiroto今日はいい天気ですね。Kyou wa ii tenki desu ne.The weather is nice today, isn't it?
- 結衣 Yuiそうですね。Sou desu ne.It certainly is.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “good morning” translations and entries おはようございます, おはよう, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
