Grammar

In this lesson, you will learn basic Japanese greetings such as おはようございます(o h a y o u g o z a i m a s u) “Good morning” and おやすみなさい(o y a s u m i n a s a i) “Good night,” as well as common ways to say good-bye. You will also be introduced to different levels of politeness in Japanese through simple exchanges. Japanese phrases are presented with romanization until the Japanese writing systems (hiragana and katakana) are introduced in Lesson 2. Each greeting in this chapter is accompanied by an audio icon that allows you to listen to native pronunciation and practice speaking aloud.

Japanese greetings vary depending on the level of politeness, which is a fundamental feature of the language. Polite-style greetings are commonly used when speaking to someone older or in a higher social position, such as a teacher, supervisor, or senior colleague. Plain-style greetings, on the other hand, are typically used among close friends, classmates, or when speaking to someone younger. This distinction reflects the broader cultural emphasis on respect and social relationships in Japanese society. Choosing an appropriate greeting helps signal how you view your relationship with the other person. By learning when to use polite and plain forms from the beginning, you will develop an important foundation for communicating naturally and appropriately in Japanese.

A:	►	おはようございます(o h a y o u g o z a i m a s u)。	Good morning. [polite]
B:	►	おはよう(o h a y o u)。	Good morning. [plain]
A:	►	おやすみなさい(o y a s u m i n a s a i)。	Good night. [polite]
B:	►	おやすみ(o y a s u m i)。	Good night. [plain]

Some Japanese greetings, such as こんにちは(k o n n i c h i h a) “hello” and こんばんは(k o n b a n h a) “good evening,” do not change according to social relationships. In these cases, the same expression is used by both speakers, regardless of age or socialstatus.

Even when the spoken greeting remains the same, politeness can still be expressed nonverbally. Speakers may adjust their level of respect through bowing, posture, facial expression, and other gestures. These nonverbal cues play an important role in Japanese communication and often accompany greetings. In this lesson, you will see how verbal greetings and nonverbal behaviors work together. Please watch the instructors’ demonstration to observe how politeness is conveyed through body language as well as speech.

A:	►	こんにちは(k o n n i c h i h a)。	Good day/Hello.
B:	►	こんにちは(k o n n i c h i h a)。	Good day/Hello.
A:	►	こんばんは(k o n b a n h a)。	Good evening.
B:	►	こんばんは(k o n b a n h a)。	Good evening.

There are different levels of politeness in saying good-bye.

A:	►	さようなら(s a y o u n a r a)。	Good bye. [carefully plain]
B:	►	しつれいします(s h i t s u r e i s h i m a s u)。	Good bye; Excuse me (for leaving). [polite]
A:	►	じゃあ、また(j a a, m a t a)。	See you again. [plain]
B:	►	バイバイ(b a i b a i)！	Bye bye! [plain]

General requests:

►

おねがいします(o n e g a i s h i m a s u)。

Will you please (do something for me)? [polite]

Expressions when you hand over something:

►	はい(h a i)。	Here you go. [carefully plain]
►	どうぞ(d o u z o)。	Here you go. [carefully plain]

Thank-you expressions range from plain to polite. In general, the longer the expression, the more polite it becomes. ありがとう(a r i g a t o u) is a plain Thank you commonly used for peers, friends and colleagues. By adding ございます(g o z a i m a s u) at the end, you can make it sound more polite. By adding どうも(d o u m o) in front, you can make it sound more careful. どうも can be used by itself.

Thank-you		Translation	Used toward
►	ありがとう(a r i g a t o u)。	Thank you. [plain]	peers, friends, colleagues
►	ありがとうございます(a r i g a t o u g o z a i m a s u)。	Thank you very much. [polite]	acquaintances, customers
►	どうも、ありがとうございます(d o u m o a r i g a t o u g o z a i m a s u)。	Thank you very much. [carefully polite]	acquaintances, customers
►	どうも(d o u m o)。	Thanks. [carefully plain]	strangers, acquaintances
►	どうも、すみません(d o u m o , s u m i m a s e n)。	I'm sorry for your trouble. [carefully polite]	strangers
Responses to Thank-you		Translation	Used toward
►	いいえ(i i e)。	No, (that's okay). [carefully plain]	strangers, acquaintances
►	どういたしまして(d o u i t a s h i m a s h i t e)。	You are welcome. [polite]	strangers, acquaintances

The title さん(s a n) is a polite suffix used after another person’s name. It is a general title that can be used for both men and women, whether they are married or single, and it may follow either a first name or a last name.

When addressing a teacher, the title /–sensei/ is used, usually after the teacher’s last name (for example, Tanaka-sensei). The word /sensei/ can also be used by itself as a respectful way to refer to one’s teacher. FYI: In some situations, /sensei/ is used more broadly to show respect for someone’s expertise or professional status, even if that person is not formally a teacher (for example, doctors, lawyers, or artists).

A. Referring to oneself		B. Referring to others		C. Referring to teachers
かわむら(k a w a m u r a)		かわむらさん(k a w a m u r a s a n)		かわむらせんせい(k a w a m u r a s e n s e i)
Kawamura.		Mr./Ms. Kawamura.		Prof. Kawamura

In Japanese, names are traditionally given in family name + given name order (e.g., Ono Yoko). Middle names are generally not used. When communicating in English or in international contexts, many Japanese speakers reverse this order to match Western conventions (e.g., Yoko Ono). Be aware that both orders may be used depending on the situation. When Japanese introduce themselves briefly, they typically give only their family name: Kawamura desu (I'm Kawamura). We will learn more about desu in Lesson 3.

⚠ Some learners of Japanese mistakenly add さん (s a n) after their own name, thinking that it sounds polite. However, this is not appropriate in Japanese. Titles such as さん are used when referring to other people, not oneself. Using さん with your own name can sound unnatural and may even give the impression of arrogance.