Translation guide
How to greet and address people in Japanese, including opening and closing phrases in letters and emails.
Expressing a standard greeting when meeting someone, depending on time of day and formality.
Good morning (polite). Used until late morning.
先生、おはようございます。
Good morning, teacher.
Hello / Good afternoon. Used from late morning until evening.
こんにちは、元気ですか？
Hello, how are you?
Good evening.
こんばんは、お疲れ様です。
Good evening, thank you for your hard work.
Good morning (casual). Used with friends and family.
おはよう、よく寝た？
Morning, did you sleep well?
The opening phrase used at the beginning of a written correspondence.
Dear Sir/Madam (formal letter opening). Often paired with 敬具 at the end.
拝啓春暖の候、ますますご清栄のこととお喜び申し上げます。
Dear Sir/Madam, I hope this letter finds you well in this spring weather.
Informal letter opening, skipping seasonal greetings. Used in less formal letters.
In emails, it's common to start with the recipient's name followed by 様 (formal) or さん (less formal).
The closing phrase used at the end of a written correspondence.
Using a person's title or role as a form of salutation, especially in formal or business contexts.
In Japanese, it's common to address people by their title or role followed by an honorific, rather than using a generic 'sir' or 'madam'.
社長、おはようございます。
Good morning, President.
先生、質問があります。
Teacher, I have a question.
English letter openings like 'Dear John' are not directly translated. Instead, use the name with an honorific (e.g., ジョンさん) or a formal opening like 拝啓.
ジョンさんへ
To John,
前略先日はありがとうございました。
I'll skip the formalities. Thank you for the other day.
Best,
取り急ぎご連絡まで。
Just a quick note to let you know.