Common Greetings and Farewells in Japanese

If you're starting to learn Japanese, it's really important to know some common greetings and goodbyes. These phrases will help you talk to people and show that you care about the language. Here’s a list you should know:

Common Greetings:

1. こんにちは (Konnichiwa) - "Hello" or "Good afternoon"

   • You can use this greeting from late morning until early evening.

2. おはようございます (Ohayou gozaimasu) - "Good morning"

   • This is a polite way to say good morning. Use it until about 11 AM.

3. こんばんは (Konbanwa) - "Good evening"

   • Say this when you greet someone after 5 PM.

4. やあ (Yaa) - "Hi" (informal)

   • This is a friendly greeting you can use with friends.

Common Farewells:

1. さよなら (Sayounara) - "Goodbye"

   • This is a formal way to say goodbye, usually when you might not see someone for a while.

2. じゃね / じゃあね (Ja ne / Jaa ne) - "See you"

   • This is a casual goodbye among friends. It means you’ll see each other soon.

3. おやすみなさい (Oyasuminasai) - "Good night"

   • Use this when saying goodbye at night, often before going to sleep.

4. 行ってきます (Ittekimasu) - "I’m off"

   • Say this when you're leaving home, letting people know you'll come back.

Fun Facts:

• Around 70% of people learning Japanese say that greetings and goodbyes are the first things they practice.
• Research shows that greetings make up about 20% of conversations in Japan.

Learning these simple phrases helps you start conversations and shows respect for the Japanese language and culture. It's a great way to connect!