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Greetings in Japanese

Japanese people are very particular about their greetings. They are one of the most important aspects of their culture. They believe that greetings are the ways to show respect to each other. While greeting, the gesture of the person should be right. Japanese people bow from their waist when they greet each other. This act of bowing is called "Ogiji" in Japanese. The main objective behind Ojigi is that this is a sign of giving respect to each other. There are different ways of Ojigi for both males and females. Greeting someone in a lazy manner is considered disrespectful. If you are planning to go to Japan, it is better to have knowledge of the very basic Japanese greetings.

Following is the list of very simple and basic set of Japanese greetings, which is used in day-today conversations:-

Greeting in English Greeting in Romaji Greeting in Hiragana Hello KONNICHIWA Good Morning OHAYOUGOZAIMAS Good Afternoon KONNICHIWA Good Evening KONBANWA Good Night OYASUMINASAI Good Bye SAYOUNARA Thank you ARIGATOUGOZAIMAS How are you doing? GENKIDESKA? I am fine. Thank you. GENKIDES I am hungry ONAKA GA SUKIMASHITA

Introduction in Japanese

English	Romaji	Hiragana
How do you do?	HAJIMEMASHITE
What is your name?	ONAMAEWA?
My name is Katsumi	WATASHI WA KATSUMI TO IIMAS

Relationshp in Japanese

English	Romaji	Hiragana
Wife	TSUMA
Husband	OTTO
Son	MUSUKO
Daughter	MUSUME
Girl-friend / Boy-friend	KOIBITO

Greeting to ask how are you along with the different ways to answer it:-

Question: Ogenki desu ka? – How are you?
(This question can be answered in three ways)

Ans 1: Okage samade genki desu. – With god’s grace i am fine, thank you.

Ans 2: Hai, mama desu. – Yes, I am so-so.

Ans 3: Hai genki desu. – Yes I am fine.