こんにちは
konnichiwa
The Japanese phrase for hello politely is こんにちは (konnichiwa).
こんにちは is a versatile greeting used throughout the day, often translated as "Hello" or "Good day". It is specifically used for the daytime and is generally not used in the early morning or late evening.
Which one should you use?
While こんにちは is for the daytime, おはようございます is the polite form used for morning greetings and こんばんは is the polite form used for evening greetings.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the Kansai region, the phrase Mokarimakka? is used to mean "How are you?"
How does it change in a sentence?
The final syllable of こんにちは is written with the character は (ha) but is pronounced as "wa" because it functions as a topic marker particle.
How do you pronounce it?
konnichiwa
When do people say it?
During the New Year period, saying Kotoshi mo yoroshiku onegaishimasu is a polite way to greet others.
Did you know?
- When answering the phone, Japanese people never say こんにちは. Instead, they use もしもし, a word specifically reserved for telephone greetings.
- While common in textbooks, you will rarely hear a person use こんにちは when greeting a close friend or family member. In those casual settings, it can actually sound stiff or even cold.
- The phrase こんにちは is actually a fragment of an older, longer sentence. Originally, it was part of a phrase like Konnichi wa gokigen ikaga desu ka?, which means 'How are you feeling today?'
Examples in context
- こんにちは、いい天気ですね。Konnichiwa, ii tenki desu ne.Hello, the weather is nice, isn't it?
- こんにちは、お元気ですか？Konnichiwa, o genki desu ka?Hello, how are you?
- こんにちは、はじめまして。Konnichiwa, hajimemashite.Hello, nice to meet you.
Example conversation
Yui and Hiroto meet in a park during the afternoon.
- 結衣 Yuiこんにちは、大翔さん。Konnichiwa, Hiroto-san.Hello, Hiroto.
- 大翔 Hirotoこんにちは、結衣さん。Konnichiwa, Yui-san.Hello, Yui.
- 結衣 Yui今日はとても暑いですね。Kyou wa totemo atsui desu ne.It is very hot today, isn't it?
- 大翔 Hirotoはい、本当にそうですね。Hai, hontou ni sou desu ne.Yes, it really is.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry こんにちは, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
