みなさん、こんにちは
minasan, konnichiwa
In Japanese, "hello class" is expressed as みなさん、こんにちは (minasan, konnichiwa).
This phrase is used by a teacher to greet all the students in a classroom. Because Japanese does not typically use the word for 'class' (クラス) as a direct vocative greeting, using みなさん (everyone) is the most natural way to address a group such as a class.
What does it mean word for word?
The expression consists of みなさん, which literally means "everyone" or "all of you" (the standard way to address a group in Japanese) and こんにちは.
How do you pronounce it?
minasan, konnichiwa
Did you know?
- In many Japanese schools, a teacher might not even use a greeting like こんにちは to start a lesson. Instead, they often begin with a formal command for the students to stand and greet the teacher themselves.
- The こんにちは in this greeting is actually a shortened version of a much longer, older way of saying 'Today is…'. It historically functioned as an opening to a sentence like 'Today is a good day'.
- A student's response to a teacher's greeting is often not a simple 'hello' back, but the phrase よろしくお願いします. This functions as a polite way of saying, 'Please treat me well during this lesson'.
Examples in context
- みなさん、こんにちは、授業を始めます。Minasan, konnichiwa, jugyou o hajimemasu.Hello class, let's begin the lesson.
- みなさん、こんにちは、今日はいい天気ですね。Minasan, konnichiwa, kyou wa ii tenki desu ne.Hello class, it is nice weather today, isn't it?
Example conversation
A teacher enters the classroom at the start of a lesson.
- 陽葵 Himariみなさん、こんにちは。Minasan, konnichiwa.Hello, class.
- 健太 Kentaこんにちは、先生！Konnichiwa, sensei!Hello, teacher!
- 陽葵 Himari今日はテストをしますよ。Kyou wa tesuto o shimasu yo.We are having a test today.
- 健太 Kentaえっ、本当ですか？E, hontou desu ka?What, really?
