In the morning, hello in Japanese is おはようございます（ohayou gozaimasu）. In the afternoon, hello in Japanese is こんにちは（konnichiwa）. From around 5 p.m. till when the sun rises, the proper way to say hello in Japanese is こんばんは（konbanwa）. Like konnichiwa, the word konbanwa is already acceptably polite.
In Japan, the most common gesture when greeting is a bow. The depth, length and style of bow depends on the social context (see below). Bowing takes place in many instances where handshakes would be common in the English-speaking West.
Top 10 Common Japanese Greetings
“Hi” – やあ！ (Ya-) “Hello” – こんにちは (Konnichiwa) “Hello” on the phone – もしもし (Moshi moshi)
もしもし • (moshi moshi) (telephony) a common Japanese telephone greeting: hello; used when answering the telephone.
In Japan, touching another person's body is considered rude, even with friends or family. Hugging and kissing are mostly for couples. Our editor Kanako said that she's never hugged any of her family members as a grown woman. She hugs her foreign friends but not the Japanese ones.
In Japanese culture it's actually very uncommon to verbally express affection in the way that we are used to in the West. While it might feel normal to text “I love you” to your significant other at random points in the day, in Japan that would be considered extremely intense!
Ara Ara is a Japanese expression, a word you say when you are moved or surprised (A term that repeats the interjection “Ara” twice) and means oh dear or oh my in English, depending on the situation.
If you ever watched at least one anime series, you probably already know this: “hello” in Japanese is Konnichiwa. Rings any bell? It most probably does since Konnichiwa is undeniably the most common Japanese greeting.
To tell someone they're cute in Japanese, you'd say 可愛い (kawaii). In other countries, “cute” can sometimes be a bit condescending or negative when used to adult women. But in Japanese, kawaii culture is a big deal.
How to Say Hello in Japanese. Konnichiwa (pronounced: “kon-nee-chee-wah”) is the basic way to say hello in Japanese; however, it is mostly heard in the afternoon. Konnichiwa is utilized as a respectful-yet-generic way to say hello to pretty much anyone, friend or otherwise.
Ohayo (おはよう, ohayō) is a colloquial term meaning good morning in Japanese. Ohayo may also refer to: Good Morning (1959 film), 1959 Japanese comedy film by director Yasujirō Ozu. Ohayo Mountain, Catskill Mountains, New York, US.
The first way to say good morning is ohayō おはよう (pronounced a lot like the state Ohio). This is the casual form, which you'd mainly use with close friends and family members. The second way to say good morning in Japanese is ohayō gozaimasu おはようございます. This is a more formal version.
Especially on weekends, Japanese dates are normally much longer affairs than in some countries. Longer, adventurous dates can be helpful for Japanese couples toward the beginning of a relationship, as taking part in each activity can help break the ice.
San (さん), is the most common honorific, equivalent to “Mr.” or “Mrs.” It is a title of respect, so it is okay to use for anyone, especially if you are not sure which honorific to use.
When someone greets you in Japanese with “Konnichiwa” it is best to respond with the same phrase “Konnichiwa”. Even though it means “Good afternoon” or “Hello” and is usually used around noon or in the afternoon, it is common to…
Other Ways to Start a Japanese Phone Conversation. If you're receiving a call from family or friends, moshi moshi is the way to go. But never use it in business situations. It's considered rude because it's a shortened phrase.
Wakarimashita / wakatta
Wakarimashita (分かりました / わかりました) is one of the best ways to say okay in Japanese.
If you already watched or read JoJo's Bizzarre Adventure in Japanese, you would know the iconic phrase by Jotaro Kujo: “やれやれ” -pronounced “Yare Yare”. The phrase is trasnlated to intrepretations such as “well well”, “good grief” and “give me a break.” It is a common expression in Japan used to show disappointment.
senpai is an upperclassman who mentors an underclassman, or kohai. This term is used most often in English in reference to anime and manga and originates from Japanese 先輩, "earlier colleague". Used more broadly to mean "teacher" or "master."
Between couples, -chan can be used to refer to girlfriends. -Kun is more masculine and is best suited for young boys and men. This is also used to refer to someone who is of lower status than you, like a subordinate at work or apprentice. Girlfriends also use -kun as a term of endearment for their boyfriend.
Yamato nadeshiko (やまとなでしこ or 大和撫子) is a Japanese term meaning the "personification of an idealized Japanese woman", or "the epitome of pure, feminine beauty"; poised, decorous, kind, gentle, graceful, humble, patient, virtuous, respectful, benevolent, honest, charitable, faithful.
What does wwww mean? Wwww is the Japanese equivalent of the English hahahaha, used to express laughter online and in text message. The more w's, the more enthusiastic the laughter. Like haha, wwww can be shortened to w(ww) and can have an ironic tone.