Dictionary / Japanese / Hello
How to Say "Hello" in Japanese
こんにちは
konnichiwa
Literally: As for today
こんにち
today
は
as for
Polite or casual
こんにちは works with almost anyone during the day. In the morning, say おはようございます (ohayō gozaimasu), and in the evening, こんばんは (konbanwa). With close friends, many people skip a greeting word altogether.
Correct
こんにちは
What people say wrong
こんにちわ
Sounds right, but it is spelled wrong.
The mistake to avoid. The last sound is wa, but it is written with は (ha), not わ (wa). は is a particle here, and particles written は are said wa. こんにちは is the start of an old greeting that began 今日は, "as for today". It is also a daytime greeting for people outside your circle: you rarely say it to your own family.
In context
こんにちは、田中さん。
Konnichiwa, Tanaka-san.
Hello, Tanaka-san.
みなさん、こんにちは。
Minasan, konnichiwa.
Hello, everyone.
こんにちは、いい天気ですね。
Konnichiwa, ii tenki desu ne.
Hello, lovely weather, isn't it?