The most common way to say hello in Japanese is こんにちは (konnichiwa), used during the daytime in most everyday situations.

Basic “hello” phrases

  • こんにちは (konnichiwa) – Standard “hello” / “good afternoon,” used from late morning through daytime, suitable for polite everyday use.
  • おはよう / おはようございます (ohayou / ohayou gozaimasu) – “Good morning”; the version with ございます is more polite and used at school, work, or with strangers.
  • こんばんは (konbanwa) – “Good evening,” used when it’s already getting dark; polite and common in shops, stations, etc.

Example mini-dialogue:

A: こんにちは。
B: こんにちは。

Casual “hi” with friends

  • やあ (yaa) – Very casual “hi,” mostly with close friends.
  • よ (yo) – Short, casual “yo/hey,” often used by younger people or men.
  • どうも (doumo) – Can work like a casual “hey/hi” or “thanks,” depending on context; informal.

Example:

A: やあ！元気？ (Yaa! Genki? – Hey! How are you?)
B: 元気だよ。 (Genki da yo. – I’m good.)

When meeting someone for the first time

  • 初めまして (hajimemashite) – Said at the very first meeting, similar to “Nice to meet you,” often followed by your name and どうぞよろしく (douzo yoroshiku).

Example:

こんにちは。初めまして。エミリーです。どうぞよろしく。
(Konnichiwa. Hajimemashite. Emily desu. Douzo yoroshiku.)

Special greeting situations

  • ただいま (tadaima) – Said when you come home: “I’m back.”
  • お帰り / お帰りなさい (okaeri / okaerinasai) – The reply: “Welcome back.”
  • お久しぶりです / お久しぶり (ohisashiburi desu / hisashiburi) – “Long time no see,” for someone you haven’t met in a while.

Example:

A: 久しぶり！ (Hisashiburi! – Long time no see!)
B: 本当だね。元気だった？ (Hontou da ne. Genki datta? – Yeah, it’s been a while. How have you been?)

Quick tips to sound natural

  • Use こんにちは for a safe, polite “hello” almost any daytime situation.
  • Switch to おはようございます in the morning and こんばんは in the evening.
  • With close friends, try やあ or よ for a more relaxed “hi.”

TL;DR:
If you only remember one phrase, make it こんにちは (konnichiwa) for “hello” in Japanese, then add おはようございます (good morning) and こんばんは (good evening) as your next step.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.