​​Aisatsu
​Greetings and Farewells

Meeting for the first ever time
Hajimemashite
はじめまして
  • ​Nice to meet you
Douzo yoroshiku onegai shimasu
どうぞ、よろしく ​おねがい　します
  • Let's get along well
  • We say 'hajimemashite' when we introduce ourselves for the very first time (It is very formal, and means, 'beginning')
  • 'Douzo yoroshiku onegai shimasu' is a formal request and essentially means 'I hope we get along well'. 
    ​This works well at the end of the introduction.

Greetings

Ohayou gozaimasu​​
おはよう　ございます
  • Good morning
Ohayou
おはよう
  • 'morning! (very informal - use with close friends)
Konnichi wa
こんにち　は
  • Hello/Good afternoon
Konban wa
こんばん　は
  • Good evening
  • We can say 'ohayou gozaimasu' until around 10 in the morning.
  • It literally means 'it is early', so using it after about 10 doesn't really sound right.

Asking how someone is

O-genki desu ka
おげんき　です　か
  • Are you well? (How are you?)
Hai, genki desu
はい、げんき　です
  • Yes, I'm well (I'm fine)
  • The 'o' in front of 'o-genki' is honorific. We use it to show respect to the person we are speaking to.

Farewells

Sayounara
さようなら
  • Goodbye
Mata ne
また　ね
  • See you again
Ja ne
じゃ　ね
  • See you
​​Ja mata
じゃ　また
  • See you again
Mata ashita
また　あした
  • See you tomorrow
Mata raishuu
また　らいしゅう
  • ​See you next week
Oyasumi nasai
おやすみ　なさい
  • Good night

Greetings for Special Occasions

Merii Kurisumasu!
メリー　クリスマス
Merry Christmas!
Akemashite, omedetou!
あけまして、おめでとう
Happy New Year!
O-tanjoubi, omedetou!
おたんじょうび、おめでとう
Happy Birthday!
Omedetou gozaimasu!
おめでとう　ございます
Congratulations!