Translation guide
The English greeting "HI" is a casual, friendly way to say hello. In Japanese, the equivalent depends heavily on the time of day, the relationship between speakers, and the situation. There is no single direct translation that works in all contexts.
A friendly, informal greeting used when meeting someone, similar to 'hello'.
The standard daytime greeting. It is slightly formal but widely used in casual settings as well. Not typically used among very close friends or family in informal situations.
こんにちは、元気ですか？
Hi, how are you?
A very casual 'hi' or 'hey', used mainly by men or in informal settings among friends. Not used in formal situations.
やあ、久しぶり。
Hey, long time no see.
A casual, shortened greeting that can mean 'hi', 'thanks', or 'sorry' depending on context. Often used as a quick, friendly acknowledgment.
どうも、また会ったね。
Hey, we meet again.
A very casual, masculine greeting used among close male friends. Similar to 'yo' or 'sup'.
おっす、調子どう？
Yo, how's it going?
Greetings that change based on the time of day, which are more common in Japanese than a generic 'hi'.
Good morning (casual). Used until around 10-11 AM. The polite form is おはようございます.
おはよう、よく寝た？
Morning, did you sleep well?
Expressing 'hi' when reuniting after some time, often with a nuance of 'long time no see'.
Literally 'long time', used as 'long time no see'. Can be combined with a greeting like やあ or お久しぶりです for politeness.
久しぶり！元気だった？
Long time no see! How have you been?
Polite version of 久しぶり. Suitable for acquaintances or superiors.
お久しぶりです、お変わりありませんか？
It's been a while, have you been well?
Greetings used in texts, chats, or online messages.
Often used in messages regardless of time, similar to 'hi' in English texts. Can be used at any hour in casual digital communication.
おはよう、今日暇？
Hey, are you free today?
A cute, playful 'hi' often used by young people or in casual online chats. Similar to 'hiiii' or 'heyoo'.
A quick 'hi' when you see someone but don't stop for a conversation, or to acknowledge their presence.
A versatile, casual acknowledgment. Can be used as a quick 'hi' when passing by.
すれ違いざまにどうも。
(While passing by) Hi.
A slight bow or nod as a non-verbal greeting. Often used in situations where speaking is not necessary or appropriate.
廊下で会釈を交わした。
We exchanged nods in the hallway.
There is no single Japanese word that perfectly matches the casual, all-purpose 'hi'. Using こんにちは at night or こんばんは in the morning will sound odd. Pay attention to time of day and relationship.
夜に「こんにちは」と言うのは不自然です。
Saying 'konnichiwa' at night is unnatural.
These three are the most common time-based greetings. おはよう (casual) / おはようございます (polite) is used in the morning. こんにちは is used during the day. こんばんは is used in the evening/night. Among friends, おはよう can be used at any time in casual messages.
友達には夜でも「おはよう」とメッセージを送ることがある。
Sometimes I send 'ohayou' to friends even at night.
In Japanese, it's common to simply say the person's name or title as a greeting, especially when seeking attention or acknowledging them. This can replace 'hi' in many contexts.
田中さん！
Hi, Mr. Tanaka!
こんにちは、お元気ですか？
Hi, how are you?
やあ、久しぶり！
Hi, long time no see!
ただいま！
Hi, I'm home!
Used when returning home, not a direct translation of 'hi' but the natural phrase in this context.
Good morning (polite). Used in formal settings or with superiors.
おはようございます、今日もよろしくお願いします。
Good morning, I look forward to working with you today.
Good evening. Used after sunset. It is neutral in politeness and can be used in most situations.
こんばんは、遅くなりました。
Good evening, sorry I'm late.
Standard daytime greeting, also used in messages. Slightly more formal than おはよう in this context.
こんにちは、メッセージありがとう。
Hi, thanks for the message.
やっほー、元気？
Hiiii, how are you?