Is it rude to say konnichiwa?

You would actually use it to greet strangers or in formal situations but, even though it is formal, “konnichiwa”, the well-known hello in Japanese, would not normally be used when greeting colleagues, as it is not considered polite.

Is konnichiwa polite?

“Hello” in Japanese – こんにちは (Konnichiwa)

こんにちは is somewhat formal so it would sound a bit awkward to say it to a friend. While it's normal in some cultures to exchange short, friendly greetings to those you pass on the street, that's a big no-no in Japan.

How do you respectfully greet a Japanese person?

In Japan, people greet each other by bowing. A bow can ranges from a small nod of the head to a deep bend at the waist. A deeper, longer bow indicates respect and conversely a small nod with the head is casual and informal. If the greeting takes place on tatami floor, people get on their knees to bow.

Can you say konnichiwa at any time?

When it comes to using it in various social contexts, you should know that Konnichiwa can be used safely in all kinds of situations (only between morning and evening; never early in the morning or late at night) except for those involving very close friends.

How do I respond to konnichiwa?

When someone greets you in Japanese with “Konnichiwa” it is best to respond with the same phrase “Konnichiwa”.

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Can you just say arigato?

Arigato gozaimashita / Thank you (Past)

If the person you're talking to is someone you know well, you can just use the casual version "arigato".

What Moshi Moshi means?

Moshi moshi, or もしもし, is a common Japanese phrase that Japanese people use when picking up the phone. It's a casual greeting used for friends and family, like a “hello”, but in fact means something entirely different! In English, it literally means something more like, “to say to say”, or “I speak I speak”.

Is konnichiwa formal or informal?

#1 こんにちは (konnichiwa) - “Hello” in Japanese

While it can be used in both formal and informal situations, you're more likely to hear it used between strangers or in more formal situations. こんにちは also literally means “good afternoon”, so you'll typically here this said at that time.

Can konnichiwa mean goodbye?

Konnichiwa means “good day” or “good afternoon” and is the most used phrase to greet one another.

Can you just say Ohayo in Japanese?

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.

What is disrespectful in Japanese culture?

Prolonged eye contact (staring) is considered rude. Don't show affection, such as hugging or shoulder slapping, in public. Never beckon with your forefinger. The Japanese extend their right arm out in front, bending the wrist down, waving fingers.

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Is it konnichiwa or ohayo?

The Japanese have no one word for hello, they instead have three major greetings based on morning, afternoon, and evening, and a form used when speaking on the telephone. Use "Ohayou" from waking to about 12:00, "Konnichiwa" until dusk, "Konbanwa" throughout the evening, and "Oyasumi" only before bed or sleeping.

What is Sumimasen?

SUMIMASEN has many different meanings: "I'm sorry", "thank you" and to get someone's attention. It might be confusing at first, but once you've used it for a while, it'll become second nature. When Japanese people say SUMIMASEN, they often bow in appreciation or apology.

How do you say sorry in Japanese?

You can make it more formal by saying "gomen-nasai" ごめんなさい or more friendly with "gomen-ne" ごめんね. "Warui warui" 悪い悪い or "my bad" is also a very casual way to say sorry. "Sumimasen" すみません, which can be translated as "excuse me", also works as an apology depending on how it is used.

Is saying sayonara rude?

no. You may have come across a few expressions such as “Konnichiwa” and “Sayonara”, but what do Japanese people really use in daily life? In fact, “Sayonara” can seem almost rude in some situations! It's much more common for people to say “Mata ne” or “Ja ne!” especially if they know each other well.

What does Domo Arigato mean?

When you buy something at a store, store clerk would say "DOMO ARIGATOU", meaning thank you "very much". You can also use DOMO as a greeting like "hello".

What is the opposite of konnichiwa?

Konbanwa (こんばんわ)

After around 6pm or sunset, you can use konbanwa, which roughly translates to “good evening,” but literally means “tonight.” In contrast to “konnichiwa”, “konbanwa” sounds more formal, and most people don't use it with their close acquaintances.

How do you say casual hello in Japanese?

Konnichiwa – こんにちは

About: This is probably the most common way to say hello in Japanese. Konnichiwa is used broadly throughout the day and is what you'll usually see translated as simply “hello” as you learn Japanese.

Why Japanese use ha instead of wa?

It's because the sound made by this character has shifted over time. The ancient Japanese people pronounced it as “fa” but, around the 9th century, it began to be said as “wa”. Even though the sound changed, people continued to use the character in the same way when writing.

Why do Japanese say Hai?

Sometimes it's used as neutral filler speech to indicate you're listening. Sometimes it's used as a sign of acknowledgement. Sometimes it's used as a delineating device to indicate a change in topic. Sometimes it's used as a way of saying “here you go”.

What is Watashi?

However, most Japanese personal pronouns do. Consider for example two words corresponding to the English pronoun "I": 私 (watashi) also means "private" or "personal". 僕 (boku) carries a masculine impression; it is typically used by males, especially those in their youth.

What does ohayo means?

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. A misspelling of Ohio, a U.S. state.