What Are Some Basic Japanese Greetings?

Probably the most polite society in the world, the Japanese have a strong desire for harmony which is reflected in the assortment of polite expressions they use in their daily lives. These basic Japanese greetings are useful and show that you are making an effort to fit in.

San

Japanese people seldom call each other by their first names but refer to the last name with the suffix “san” attached to the end of it.

Itadakimasu/Gochisosama deshita

At mealtimes, they express their appreciation and gratitude for the meal by using the phrase, “Itadakimasu” (thank you for this food) before eating and “Gochisosama deshita” at the end to show their appreciation.

Irrashaimase!

When entering convenience stores, restaurants, and bars, the staff will usually shout, “Irrashaimase!” to welcome you into their establishment. You can answer with a slight nod of your head.

Ojamashimasu

Likewise when you visit someone at their house, it is polite to say “Ojamashimasu” which means “I’m sorry to bother you”.

Sumimasen

This is a very useful phrase meaning “thank you” or “excuse me” or “hey there” or “pardon me” according to the situation. Japanese people usually say they are sorry rather than thank you when someone does something for them. They are sorry that they have inconvenienced you, so they apologize by saying “sumimasen” rather than “arigato”. Also if you bump into someone on a train or street, you can say “sumimasen” and bow slightly holding one hand up in front of you - this makes the apology seem more sincere. Furthermore, you can call out, “Sumimasen!” in a restaurant to get the waiter’s attention or to ask for help in a department store.

Domo Arigato Gozaimasu

This expression is used for thanking someone for something.

Doitashimashite

This means “you are welcome”.

Leaving/Coming Back Home

“Ittekimasu” is used when Japanese people leave their homes or offices in the morning. It means “See you later” and is usually answered by “itterasshai”, a phrase that wishes that person a nice time while they are gone. Conversely, when a person arrives home, they might say “Tadaima” to let the others know they are back. The people who are already at home will answer with “Okaeri” meaning “Welcome Back!”

Otsukaresama desu

At work, colleagues will say, “Otsukaresama desu” to one another which means “Thank you for all your hard work!” Another phrase used at work or school is “Gambarimashou” which translates to “Let’s persevere together!”