こんにちは、お嬢さん
Konnichiwa, ojousan
The English phrase "hello miss" is translated into Japanese as こんにちは、お嬢さん (Konnichiwa, ojousan).
This phrase is used when addressing a young woman whose name is unknown, often used by older people or in specific service contexts.
Which one should you use?
While お嬢さん can mean "young lady", it is also a common way to refer to someone else's daughter.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The use of the honorific prefix o in ojousan makes こんにちは、お嬢さん a polite way to address a young woman. The phrase おっす、お嬢さん is a casual way to greet someone.
How do you pronounce it?
Konnichiwa, ojousan
Did you know?
- The phrase こんにちは is historically derived from a longer sentence meaning 'today is…', which was originally used to start a conversation before the main topic was introduced.
- Because お嬢さん can sound like you are addressing a 'princess' or a 'lady of high standing', using it with a peer might actually come across as sarcastic or teasing.
- Japanese has several words for 'miss' or 'young lady', and お嬢さん is distinct from お姉さん, which literally means 'older sister' but is used for women slightly older than the speaker.
Examples in context
- おっす、お嬢さん！元気？Hey miss! How are you?
Example conversation
An elderly man greets a young woman in a neighborhood park.
- 蓮 Renこんにちは、お嬢さん。いい天気ですね。Konnichiwa, ojōsan. Ii tenki desu ne.Hello miss. It is a beautiful day, isn't it?
- 結衣 Yuiはい、本当に気持ちがいいですね。Hai, hontō ni kimochi ga ii desu ne.Yes, it really feels wonderful.
- 蓮 Renどこへ行くところですか？Doko e iku tokoro desu ka?Where are you headed?
- 結衣 Yui駅の方へ歩いています。Eki no hō e aruite imasu.I am walking toward the station.
