Useful Japanese Greetings and Common Expressions

• Hello!
• Konnichiwa

• Good day!
• Konnichiwa!

• Good morning!
• Ohayou gozaimasu!

• Good afternoon!
• Konnichiwa

• Good evening!
• Konbanwa!

• Goodnight!
• Oyasumi nasai!

• Goodbye!
• Sayounara!

• How are you?
• Ikaga desu ka? / Ogenki desu ka?

• How do you?
• Hajime-mashite.

• I'm fine.
• Genki desu.

• Not too well.
• Amari genki de wa gozaimasu.

• Thank you.
• Arigatou.

• Thank you very much.
• Doumo arigatou.

• Thanks to you.
• Okagesama de.

• You're welcome.
• Dou itashimashite.

• Congratulations!
• Omedetou gozaimasu.

• Good luck!
• Kooun o inorimasu.

• Happy Birthday!
• Otanjoubi omedetou gozaimasu.

• Happy trip!
• Yoi otabi wo!

• Happy New Year!
• Shinnen omedetou gozaimasu! / Akemashite omedetou gozaimasu.

• Happy Anniversary!
• Happii anibaasarii!

• Best Wishes!
• Go koufuku o inorimasu . go takou o inorimasu.

• Merry Christmas!
• Kurisumasu omedetou!

• Excuse me.
• Sumimasen.

• Sorry.
• Shitsurei shimasu. / Shitsurei desu ga. / Gomen nasai.

• Sorry, I didn't mean to do it.
• Gomen nasai, sooiutsumori de yattanja arimasen.

• Sorry to disturb you.
• Ojamashite sumimasen.

• Pardon me.
• Gomen nasai.

• It's alright.
• Daijoubu desu.

• Don't bother.
• Okamai naku.

• Never mind.
• Kamaimasen. / Goshimpai naku. / Ki ni shinai de kudasai.

• It's nothing.
• Nan demo arimasen.

• Nice meeting you.
• Oai dekite ureshii desu.

• Glad to meet you.
• Omeni kakarete ureshii.

• I'm glad to see you.
• Douzo yoroshiku.

• Hope to see you again.
• Mata aimashou.

• See you.
• Jaa ne. / Mata ne.

• See you again.
• Dewa mata. Ja mata.

• See you later.
• Mata aimashou. / Ja mata.

• So long.
• Ja mata.

• Come again.
• Mata kite kudasai.

• It's good to see you again.
• Mata oai dekireba ureshii desu.

• Long time no see.
• Ohisashibure desu ne.

• Same to you.
• Go douyou ni.

• Me, too.
• Watashi mo desu.

• Of course.
• Mochiron.

• Of course not.
• Mochiron, chigaimasu.

• Take care.
• Dewa odaijini. / Ki o tsukete.

• Be careful.
• Ki o tsukenasai.

• Have a nice day.
• Gokigen you.

• You're so kind.
• Anata wa taihen shinsetsu desu.

• That's very kind of you.
• Goshinsetsu ni arigatou.

• What can I do for you?
• Nani ka otetsudai shimashou ka? / Nani ka go you wa arimasen ka? / Nani ka go you desu ka?

• Sure!
• Ii desu yo!

• By all means.
• Ii desu yo.

• Cheer up!
• Genki o dashite kudasai!

• Anybody home?
• Gomen kudasai.

• Please come in.
• Ohairi nasai. / Douzo haitte kudasai. / Douzo agatte kudasai.

• Please sit down.
• Douzo okake kudasai.

• Please feel at home.
• Douzo oraku ni.

• Please eat.
• Tabete kudasai.

• Please help yourself.
• Douzo meshi agatte kudasai.

• Thank you. (for food before eating)
• Itadakimasu.

• Thank you. (after eating)
• Gochisou sama.

• Do you know?
• Shitte imasu ka?

• I know.
• Shitte imasu.

• I don't know.
• Wakarimasen. / Shirimasen.

• How did you know?
• Doushite shitte irun desu ka?

• Did you understand?
• Wakarimashita ka?

• I understand.
• Wakarimasu.

• I understood.
• Wakarimashita.

• I don't understand.
• Wakarimasen.

• What do you think?
• Dou omoimasu ka?

• I think so.
• Sou omoimasu.

• I don't think so.
• Watashi wa sou omoimasen.

• Do you like?
• Suki desu ka?

• I like it.
• Suki desu.

• I don't like.
• Kirai desu.

• I don't like it.
• Watashi wa sore ga suki dewa arimasen.

• I'm home!
• Tadaima!

• I'm here!
• Tadaima!

• Welcome!
• Irasshaimase!

• Welcome home!
• Okaeri nasai!

• Welcome to Japan!
• Youkoso Nihon e!

• Look!
• Goran nasai!

• Are you kidding?
• Joudan deshou?

• Just kidding.
• Joudan desu you.

• Go for it.
• Yatte miro.

• Are you sure?
• Tashika desu ka?

• I'm sure.
• Tashika desu.

• I'm not sure.
• Tashika dewa arimasen.

• What do you suggest?
• Anata wa nani o teian shimasu ka?

• I have no idea.
• Mattaku shirimasen.

• I will see.
• Mite mimashou.

• Do you believe?
• Shinjite imasu ka? / Shinjimasu ka?

• I believe.
• Shinjite imasu. / Shinjimasu.

• I don't believe.
• Shinjiraremasen. / Shinjimasen.

• Hurry up!
• Isogi nasai. / Isoide kudasai.

• I'm in a hurry.
• Watashi wa isoide imasu.

• As you see.
• Goran no toori desu.

• For a while, please.
• Chotto matte kudasai.

• It's cold. (weather)
• Samui desu.

• It's very cold.
• Taihen samui desu.

• It's warm.
• Atatakai desu.

• It's humid.
• Shimeppoi desu.