[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"blog-article-local-top-12-greetings-in-japanese":3,"$fHZsWYl_LcdVZ5GxKwtR-ZqvCZbbUdo2_Fi6R_GQKiQM":936,"blog-article-cms-top-12-greetings-in-japanese":938,"article-hreflang-top-12-greetings-in-japanese":939,"blog-article-related-top-12-greetings-in-japanese-en":1572},{"id":4,"title":5,"body":6,"description":914,"extension":915,"meta":916,"navigation":929,"path":930,"rawbody":931,"seo":932,"stem":933,"__hash__":934,"timestampUnix":917,"slug":918,"h1":919,"image":920,"tags":925,"timestamp":935,"locale":-1},"content\u002Farticle\u002Fjapanese\u002Fjapanese-greetings.md","Top 12 Japanese Greetings: Meanings, Usage, and Cultural Context",{"type":7,"value":8,"toc":878},"minimark",[9,13,22,25,28,31,42,81,88,95,109,117,148,162,165,173,202,205,213,243,257,259,267,300,309,316,324,354,364,377,382,390,395,401,405,414,418,429,435,438,442,448,458,464,466,474,503,509,512,518,529,537,567,585,588,590,598,627,634,637,645,674,687,695,724,731,740,748,778,789,796,800,803,806,814,827,830,836,844,851,855,857,861,864,867,875],[10,11,12],"p",{},"Greetings are an important aspect of any language and are used to acknowledge someone's presence, initiate communication, or show respect and friendliness. They are a fundamental aspect of social interaction and can vary widely across different cultures and contexts. Japanese, in particular, has its own set of greetings that you should be familiar with for smooth communication.",[10,14,15,16,21],{},"If you want to ",[17,18,20],"a",{"href":19},"\u002Flearn-japanese","learn Japanese",", then, this is a good place to start.",[10,23,24],{},"Here's a few greetings you'll hear all the time:",[26,27],"toc",{},[29,30],"hr",{},[32,33,35,36,41],"h2",{"id":34},"おはようございます-ohayōgozaimasu-good-morning","おはようございます (Ohayōgozaimasu) ",[37,38],"custom-audio",{"src":39,":type":40},"\u002Fassets\u002Fblog\u002Fおはようございます.m4a","0"," — Good morning",[10,43,44,48,49,52,54,57,58,60,62,65,66,65,71,73,75,78,79],{},[45,46,47],"strong",{},"Meaning:"," Good morning ",[50,51],"br",{},[50,53],{},[45,55,56],{},"Usage:"," From sunrise to noon ",[50,59],{},[50,61],{},[45,63,64],{},"Kanji form:"," ",[67,68],"typo",{"lang":69,"syntax":70},"ja","御[お] 早[はよ,はよう]う 御[ご] 座[ざ,ざる]います",[50,72],{},[50,74],{},[45,76,77],{},"Note:"," Often shortened to おはよう in casual settings ",[50,80],{},[10,82,83,84,87],{},"The morning greeting, おはようございます, is believed to have originated from Kabuki theater. Kabuki actors, needing ample time for preparation, would arrive and start getting ready well before the performance started. In turn, backstage and lower-ranked staff would use the phrase ",[67,85],{"lang":69,"syntax":86},"お 早[はや,はやい]い お 着[つ,つく]き で ご ざ[,ざる]います",", which means \"You have arrived early,\" as a form of encouragement. Over time, this phrase evolved into its current form.",[89,90],"img",{"src":91,"width":92,"height":93,"alt":94},"\u002Fassets\u002Fblog\u002FKabuki.webp",4288,2848,"A traditional Japanese Kabuki scene, which originated the phrase ohayou gozaimasu, is displayed in the Edo-Tokyo Museum. It shows three people in different poses, wearing elaborate clothing.",[96,97,98],"blockquote",{},[10,99,100,101,104,105,108],{},"In addition to おはよう (ohayō), there is also the greeting おそよう (osoyō), which has a sarcastic connotation. The origin of おはよう stems from the word ",[67,102],{"lang":69,"syntax":103},"早[はや,はやう]う"," (hayau), meaning \"early\", while おそよう is derived from ",[67,106],{"lang":69,"syntax":107},"遅[おそ,おそい]い"," (osoi), meaning \"late.\" Thus, it can be used as a sarcastic greeting for someone who arrives late in the morning.",[32,110,112,113,116],{"id":111},"こんにちは-konnichiwa-good-day","こんにちは (Konnichiwa) ",[37,114],{"src":115,":type":40},"\u002Fassets\u002Fblog\u002Fこんにちは.m4a"," — Good day",[10,118,119,121,122,124,126,129,130,132,134,65,136,65,139,141,143,145,146],{},[45,120,47],{}," Good day ",[50,123],{},[50,125],{},[45,127,128],{},"When to use:"," From noon to right before sunset ",[50,131],{},[50,133],{},[45,135,64],{},[67,137],{"lang":69,"syntax":138},"今日[こんにち] は",[50,140],{},[50,142],{},[45,144,77],{}," - ",[50,147],{},[10,149,150,151,154,155,158,159,161],{},"A long time ago, greetings like ",[67,152],{"lang":69,"syntax":153},"今日[こんにち] は、ご 機嫌[きげん] いか が です か"," (How are you today?) and ",[67,156],{"lang":69,"syntax":157},"今日[こんにち] は、いい[,いい] お 天気[てんき] です ね"," (Nice weather today, isn't it?) have been used. However, in the Meiji era, textbooks omitted the part of the greeting following ",[67,160],{"lang":69,"syntax":138}," and instead wrote こんにちは, which became widely adopted.",[10,163,164],{},"While in writing こんにちわ is occasionally used by some people as well, knowing its origin tells us that こんにちは is the correct form.",[32,166,168,169,172],{"id":167},"こんばんは-kombanwa-good-evening","こんばんは (Kombanwa) ",[37,170],{"src":171,":type":40},"\u002Fassets\u002Fblog\u002Fこんばんは.m4a"," — Good evening",[10,174,175,177,178,180,182,184,185,187,189,65,191,65,194,196,198,145,200],{},[45,176,47],{}," Good evening ",[50,179],{},[50,181],{},[45,183,128],{}," From sunset to right before sunrise ",[50,186],{},[50,188],{},[45,190,64],{},[67,192],{"lang":69,"syntax":193},"今晩[こんばん] は",[50,195],{},[50,197],{},[45,199,77],{},[50,201],{},[10,203,204],{},"こんばんは originally included additional words, similar to こんにちは. However, these words were eventually omitted, resulting in the simplified form こんばんは.",[32,206,208,209,212],{"id":207},"おやすみなさい-oyasuminasai-good-night","おやすみなさい (Oyasuminasai) ",[37,210],{"src":211,":type":40},"\u002Fassets\u002Fblog\u002Fおやすみなさい.m4a"," — Good night",[10,214,215,217,218,220,222,224,225,227,229,65,231,65,234,236,238,240,241],{},[45,216,47],{}," Good night ",[50,219],{},[50,221],{},[45,223,128],{}," Before someone goes to bed ",[50,226],{},[50,228],{},[45,230,64],{},[67,232],{"lang":69,"syntax":233},"御[お] 休[やす,やすむ]みなさい",[50,235],{},[50,237],{},[45,239,77],{}," Often shortened to おやすみ in casual speech ",[50,242],{},[10,244,245,246,249,250,252,253,256],{},"おやすみなさい is used when another person is about to go to bed, to wish them a good night. Since it seems that it is constructed from the word ",[67,247],{"lang":69,"syntax":248},"休[やす,やすむ]む"," (yasumu), meaning \"to rest\", and the command form なさい (nasai), some people may find this phrase odd, as it seems like you are giving an order to someone.",[50,251],{},"\nThis good night phrase is thought to come from ",[67,254],{"lang":69,"syntax":255},"ゆっくり と お 休[やす,やすむ]み に なっ[,なる]て ください",", originally meaning \"Please have a restful sleep,\" which was used by innkeepers. Eventually, it evolved into the abbreviated form おやすみなさい we know today.",[29,258],{},[32,260,262,263,266],{"id":261},"はじめまして-hajimemashite-nice-to-meet-you","はじめまして (Hajimemashite) ",[37,264],{"src":265,":type":40},"\u002Fassets\u002Fblog\u002F初めまして.m4a"," — Nice to meet you",[10,268,269,271,272,274,276,278,279,281,283,65,285,288,289,65,292,294,296,145,298],{},[45,270,47],{}," Nice to meet you ",[50,273],{},[50,275],{},[45,277,128],{}," When meeting someone for the first time ",[50,280],{},[50,282],{},[45,284,64],{},[67,286],{"lang":69,"syntax":287},"初[はじ]めまして","; ",[67,290],{"lang":69,"syntax":291},"始[はじ]めまして",[50,293],{},[50,295],{},[45,297,77],{},[50,299],{},[10,301,302,304,305,308],{},[67,303],{"lang":69,"syntax":287}," is a greeting that is used when meeting someone for the first time. It's believed to be a shortened version of phrases like ",[67,306],{"lang":69,"syntax":307},"初[はじ]めまして お 目[め] に かか[,かかる]りまして"," (Nice to meet you for the first time), which simply acknowledges the first encounter.\n",[10,310,311,312,315],{},"Interestingly, this greeting ends with the conjunctive て-form, which indicates the continuation of an action, thus hinting that further words will follow. In practice, it's often followed by self-introductions such as ",[67,313],{"lang":69,"syntax":314},"初[はじ]めまして、高橋[たかはし] と 申[もう,もうす]します"," (Nice to meet you, I'm Takahashi).",[32,317,319,320,323],{"id":318},"よろしくおねがいします-yoroshiku-onegaishimasu-no-exact-translation","よろしくおねがいします (Yoroshiku onegaishimasu) ",[37,321],{"src":322,":type":40},"\u002Fassets\u002Fblog\u002Fよろしくお願いします.m4a"," — (No exact translation)",[10,325,326,328,329,331,333,335,336,338,340,65,342,65,345,347,349,351,352],{},[45,327,47],{}," Please remember me; please treat me well ",[50,330],{},[50,332],{},[45,334,128],{}," (See discussion below) ",[50,337],{},[50,339],{},[45,341,64],{},[67,343],{"lang":69,"syntax":344},"宜[よろ,よろしい]しく 御[お] 願[ねが,ねがう]い し[,する]ます",[50,346],{},[50,348],{},[45,350,77],{}," Sometimes shortened to よろしく in casual settings, or よろ if you want to be really casual ",[50,353],{},[10,355,356,359,360,363],{},[67,357],{"lang":69,"syntax":358},"よろしく お 願[ねが,ねがう]い し[,する]ます"," can be broken down into two parts: よろしく and ",[67,361],{"lang":69,"syntax":362},"お 願[ねが,ねがう]い し[,する]ます",".\n",[365,366,367,374],"ul",{},[368,369,370,371,373],"li",{},"The latter part, ",[67,372],{"lang":69,"syntax":362},", is a common phrase used when making a request, similar to \"please\" in English.",[368,375,376],{},"As for the former part, よろしく, it's an older Japanese term that conveys a meaning like \"suitably\" or \"properly\".",[10,378,379,381],{},[67,380],{"lang":69,"syntax":358}," could be directly translated to something like \"Please do properly\". However, as is typical for Japanese, it is a rather vague expression that leaves the action open to interpretation. Putting the phrase together, you can think of the translation as \"Please do what you think is appropriate within your capabilities.\" This vague approach is helpful because it makes an outright refusal less likely and improves the flow of the conversation.\n",[96,383,384],{},[10,385,386,387,389],{},"Despite often being associated with a greeting when first meeting someone, ",[67,388],{"lang":69,"syntax":358}," has a much broader usage than that. Here are some of the most common ones.",[391,392,394],"h3",{"id":393},"as-nice-to-meet-you-in-a-self-introduction","As \"Nice to meet you\" in a self-introduction",[10,396,397,398,400],{},"When introducing oneself for the first time, after stating one's name, place of origin, occupation, etc., one says ",[67,399],{"lang":69,"syntax":358}," at the end. In this context, it is equivalent to \"Nice to meet you\" in English.",[391,402,404],{"id":403},"when-starting-a-meeting-or-interview","When starting a meeting or interview",[10,406,407,408,410,411,413],{},"After the facilitator gives the opening remarks, they say ",[67,409],{"lang":69,"syntax":358},". In this context, it carries the meaning similar to \"Shall we begin\" or \"Let's get started\" in English. It's common for participants to respond by saying ",[67,412],{"lang":69,"syntax":358}," in return.",[391,415,417],{"id":416},"when-expressing-gratitude","When expressing gratitude",[10,419,420,421,423,424,428],{},"As mentioned earlier, ",[67,422],{"lang":69,"syntax":358}," doesn't necessarily specify requests, but it ",[425,426,427],"em",{},"can"," be used for making them.",[10,430,431,434],{},[67,432],{"lang":69,"syntax":433},"ご 確認[かくにん] の ほど よろしく お 願[ねが,ねがう]い いた[,いたす]します","\n(I kindly ask for your confirmation.)\n",[10,436,437],{},"Adding よろしく when making a request can soften it, conveying the sentiment of \"I would like to request.\"",[391,439,441],{"id":440},"used-at-the-end-of-an-email","Used at the end of an email",[10,443,444,445,447],{},"While it's rarely used between friends, in business settings, ",[67,446],{"lang":69,"syntax":358}," is typically written at the end of emails. This usage is similar to \"Best regards\" or \"Yours truly\" in English.",[96,449,450],{},[10,451,452,454,455,457],{},[67,453],{"lang":69,"syntax":358}," is used in various other situations as well. For example, when confessing feelings or proposing to someone, they might respond with ",[67,456],{"lang":69,"syntax":358}," as a way of saying \"OK\".\n",[10,459,460,461,463],{},"As you can see, due to its various usages, ",[67,462],{"lang":69,"syntax":358}," is one of those expressions that is better learned through getting copious amounts of exposure to the language.",[29,465],{},[32,467,469,470,473],{"id":468},"いただきます-itadakimasu-say-before-eating-a-meal","いただきます (Itadakimasu) ",[37,471],{"src":472,":type":40},"\u002Fassets\u002Fblog\u002Fいただきます.m4a"," — (Say before eating a meal)",[10,475,476,478,479,481,483,485,486,488,490,65,492,65,495,497,499,145,501],{},[45,477,47],{}," Thank you (for the meal just served) ",[50,480],{},[50,482],{},[45,484,128],{}," Before starting to eat ",[50,487],{},[50,489],{},[45,491,64],{},[67,493],{"lang":69,"syntax":494},"頂[いただ,いただく]きます",[50,496],{},[50,498],{},[45,500,77],{},[50,502],{},[10,504,505,506,508],{},"いただきます comes from the word いただく (itadaku). いただく originally referred to the act of raising something over ones head when consuming an offering in honor of the gods, or when receiving something from someone of higher status.",[50,507],{},"\nFrom this, it came to be used as an honorific expression for \"eating\" or \"receiving\".",[10,510,511],{},"Eventually, いただきます established itself as a customary pre-meal greeting.",[89,513],{"src":514,"width":515,"height":516,"alt":517},"\u002Fassets\u002Fblog\u002FIzakaya.webp",5184,3703,"In a cozy Japanese Izakaya, people exchange greetings before saying itadakimasu and enjoying their meal, seated around a wooden table.",[96,519,520,523,526],{},[10,521,522],{},"いただきます expresses gratitude in two ways.",[10,524,525],{},"The first is gratitude towards those that were involved in preparing the meal, serving it, growing the vegetables, catching the fish, and any others who contributed to it.",[10,527,528],{},"The second is gratitude towards the ingredients. Not only for animals who gave their life, but also for vegetables and fruits, as it is believed that they also have life force.",[32,530,532,533,536],{"id":531},"ごちそうさま-gochisōsama-say-after-eating-a-meal","ごちそうさま (Gochisōsama) ",[37,534],{"src":535,":type":40},"\u002Fassets\u002Fblog\u002Fごちそうさま.m4a"," — (Say after eating a meal)",[10,538,539,541,542,544,546,548,549,551,553,65,555,65,558,560,562,564,565],{},[45,540,47],{}," Thank you for the meal ",[50,543],{},[50,545],{},[45,547,128],{}," After finishing a meal ",[50,550],{},[50,552],{},[45,554,64],{},[67,556],{"lang":69,"syntax":557},"御[ご] 馳走[ちそう] 様[さま]",[50,559],{},[50,561],{},[45,563,77],{}," Sometimes shortened to just ごち in very informal situations ",[50,566],{},[10,568,569,570,573,574,577,578,581,582,584],{},"In the past, before refrigerators and supermarkets existed as they do now, gathering ingredients was a challenging task. ",[67,571],{"lang":69,"syntax":572},"馳走[ちそう]"," (chisō) originally meant to run around, depicting the effort put into preparing and serving a meal. By adding the polite prefix ",[67,575],{"lang":69,"syntax":576},"御[ご]"," (go) and the honorific suffix ",[67,579],{"lang":69,"syntax":580},"様[さま]"," (sama) to ",[67,583],{"lang":69,"syntax":572},", it became ごちそうさま.",[10,586,587],{},"In modern times, various ingredients are easily accessible all around us. However, planning daily menus, shopping, and preparing meals still requires considerable effort. Therefore, ごちそうさま or ごちそうさまでした are used as expressions of gratitude and appreciation for the hard work.",[29,589],{},[32,591,593,594,597],{"id":592},"いってらっしゃい-itterasshai-roughly-take-care","いってらっしゃい (Itterasshai) ",[37,595],{"src":596,":type":40},"\u002Fassets\u002Fblog\u002F行ってらっしゃい.m4a"," — Roughly \"take care\"",[10,599,600,602,603,605,607,609,610,612,614,65,616,65,619,621,623,145,625],{},[45,601,47],{}," Have a good day; take care ",[50,604],{},[50,606],{},[45,608,128],{}," Parting phrase directed at someone leaving ",[50,611],{},[50,613],{},[45,615,64],{},[67,617],{"lang":69,"syntax":618},"行[い,いく]って らっしゃ[,らっしゃる]い",[50,620],{},[50,622],{},[45,624,77],{},[50,626],{},[10,628,629,630,633],{},"Originally いってらっしゃい was created by combining ",[67,631],{"lang":69,"syntax":632},"行[い,いく]く"," (iku), meaning \"to go,\" and いらっしゃい (irasshai), meaning \"to come,\" and creating a phrase that encompasses both.",[10,635,636],{},"いってらっしゃい carries the meaning of \"Go and return safely,\" emphasizing a wish for the person to depart and return safely.",[32,638,640,641,644],{"id":639},"いってきます-ittekimasu-roughly-im-off","いってきます (Ittekimasu) ",[37,642],{"src":643,":type":40},"\u002Fassets\u002Fblog\u002Fいってきます.m4a"," — roughly \"I'm off\"",[10,646,647,649,650,652,654,656,657,659,661,65,663,65,666,668,670,145,672],{},[45,648,47],{}," I'm off; see you later ",[50,651],{},[50,653],{},[45,655,128],{}," Parting phrase used by the person leaving ",[50,658],{},[50,660],{},[45,662,64],{},[67,664],{"lang":69,"syntax":665},"行[い,いく]って 来[き,くる]ます",[50,667],{},[50,669],{},[45,671,77],{},[50,673],{},[10,675,676,679,680,682,683,686],{},[67,677],{"lang":69,"syntax":678},"行[い,いく]って き[,くる]ます"," combines ",[67,681],{"lang":69,"syntax":632}," (iku), meaning \"to go\", and ",[67,684],{"lang":69,"syntax":685},"帰[かえ,かえる]って き[,くる]ます"," (kaettekimasu), meaning \"coming back.\" Therefore, it carries the meaning of \"I'm leaving now, and I'll be back\". In the past, traveling was often dangerous, so by saying いってきます, it was like making a vow to return without fail.\n",[32,688,690,691,694],{"id":689},"ただいま-tadaima-im-back","ただいま (Tadaima) ",[37,692],{"src":693,":type":40},"\u002Fassets\u002Fblog\u002Fただいま.m4a"," — I'm back!",[10,696,697,699,700,702,704,706,707,709,711,65,713,65,716,718,720,145,722],{},[45,698,47],{}," I'm home!; I'm back! ",[50,701],{},[50,703],{},[45,705,128],{}," Said when one has returned or come home ",[50,708],{},[50,710],{},[45,712,64],{},[67,714],{"lang":69,"syntax":715},"只今[ただいま]",[50,717],{},[50,719],{},[45,721,77],{},[50,723],{},[10,725,726,727,730],{},"ただいま is thought of as being a shortened form of ",[67,728],{"lang":69,"syntax":729},"只今[ただいま] 帰[かえ,かえる]りました"," (I have just returned).",[10,732,733,736,737,739],{},[67,734],{"lang":69,"syntax":735},"今[いま]"," (ima) on its own already expresses \"now\", while ",[67,738],{"lang":69,"syntax":715}," intensifies this meaning, signifying not just the present moment but also indicating very recent past events, such as \"just now\" or \"a moment ago.\"\n",[32,741,743,744,747],{"id":742},"おかえりなさい-okaerinasai-welcome-home","おかえりなさい (Okaerinasai) ",[37,745],{"src":746,":type":40},"\u002Fassets\u002Fblog\u002Fお帰りなさい.m4a"," — Welcome home",[10,749,750,752,753,755,757,759,760,762,764,65,766,65,769,771,773,775,776],{},[45,751,47],{}," Welcome home ",[50,754],{},[50,756],{},[45,758,128],{}," Greeting said by the person already there towards someone coming home ",[50,761],{},[50,763],{},[45,765,64],{},[67,767],{"lang":69,"syntax":768},"御[お] 帰[かえ,かえる]りなさい",[50,770],{},[50,772],{},[45,774,77],{}," Often shortened to おかえり ",[50,777],{},[10,779,780,781,784,785,788],{},"Originally, ",[67,782],{"lang":69,"syntax":783},"お 帰[かえ,かえる]りなさい"," was expressed as ",[67,786],{"lang":69,"syntax":787},"よく[,いい] ご 無事 に、お 帰[かえ,かえる]り なさ[,なさる]いました"," (Welcome back, I'm glad you've returned safely), but it was shortened over time to the form we know today.",[10,790,791,792,795],{},"There is also a more polite form with ",[67,793],{"lang":69,"syntax":794},"お 帰[かえ,かえる]り なさ[,なさる]いませ",".",[32,797,799],{"id":798},"want-to-learn-japanese-for-real","... want to learn Japanese for real?",[10,801,802],{},"The first chapter of any textbook will start you off with greetings, and they're the start of every single conversation, so you'd be forgiven if you wanted to learn Japanese and decided that the best place to do that would be with greetings.",[10,804,805],{},"The thing is, you'd also be wrong.",[10,807,808,809,813],{},"When we dumped ",[17,810,812],{"href":811},"\u002Fblog\u002Fjapanese\u002Fhow-to-learn-japanese-vocabulary","every single word in Japanese Netflix into a spreadsheet"," and then organized them by frequency, we made two very practical discoveries:",[815,816,817,820],"ol",{},[368,818,819],{},"To have an 80% chance of recognizing any word you see in any Japanese show, you only need to know about 1,500 words",[368,821,822,823,826],{},"Words like こんにちは aren't actually ",[425,824,825],{},"that"," common",[10,828,829],{},"So, this data in our back pocket, we set out to build the most optimal Japanese course possible:",[89,831],{"src":832,"width":833,"height":834,"alt":835},"\u002Fassets\u002Fblog\u002Fmigaku-japanese-academy-greetings.jpeg",1648,1152,"A screenshot of the Migaku Japanese Academy, showing how we help users learn Japanese words and grammar points ",[10,837,838,839,843],{},"It's a flashcard-based course (backed by ",[17,840,842],{"href":841},"\u002Fblog\u002Flanguage-fun\u002Fspaced-repetition-language-learning","spaced repetition",", of course). Each flashcard includes one new word, and the example sentence that word appears in will help you reinforce an important sentence structure.",[10,845,846,847,850],{},"The course will take about 6 months to finish, at a pace of 10 words (~30 minutes) per day, and with this foundation under you, you'll be ready to start stumbling your way through ",[425,848,849],{},"real"," Japanese content.",[852,853],"prose-button",{"href":19,"text":854},"Learn Japanese with Migaku",[29,856],{},[32,858,860],{"id":859},"you-can-say-hello-in-japanese-but-now-what","You can say hello in Japanese... but now what?",[10,862,863],{},"As you can see, greetings in Japanese are often not simply words, but constructs made with different grammar structures applied to them. Learning these grammar points can help you memorize specific greetings and make more sense of them.",[10,865,866],{},"This is a lot—we admit—but it's also not something you need to go out of your way and stress about. Behold the golden rule of language learning:",[96,868,869],{},[10,870,871,872,795],{},"If you consume media you enjoy in Japanese, and you understand some of the messages and sentences within that media, you will make progress. ",[425,873,874],{},"Period",[10,876,877],{},"Good luck, friend",{"title":879,"searchDepth":880,"depth":880,"links":881},"",2,[882,884,886,888,890,892,900,902,904,906,908,910,912,913],{"id":34,"depth":880,"text":883},"おはようございます (Ohayōgozaimasu)  — Good morning",{"id":111,"depth":880,"text":885},"こんにちは (Konnichiwa)  — Good day",{"id":167,"depth":880,"text":887},"こんばんは (Kombanwa)  — Good evening",{"id":207,"depth":880,"text":889},"おやすみなさい (Oyasuminasai)  — Good night",{"id":261,"depth":880,"text":891},"はじめまして (Hajimemashite)  — Nice to meet you",{"id":318,"depth":880,"text":893,"children":894},"よろしくおねがいします (Yoroshiku onegaishimasu)  — (No exact translation)",[895,897,898,899],{"id":393,"depth":896,"text":394},3,{"id":403,"depth":896,"text":404},{"id":416,"depth":896,"text":417},{"id":440,"depth":896,"text":441},{"id":468,"depth":880,"text":901},"いただきます (Itadakimasu)  — (Say before eating a meal)",{"id":531,"depth":880,"text":903},"ごちそうさま (Gochisōsama)  — (Say after eating a meal)",{"id":592,"depth":880,"text":905},"いってらっしゃい (Itterasshai)  — Roughly \"take care\"",{"id":639,"depth":880,"text":907},"いってきます (Ittekimasu)  — roughly \"I'm off\"",{"id":689,"depth":880,"text":909},"ただいま (Tadaima)  — I'm back!",{"id":742,"depth":880,"text":911},"おかえりなさい (Okaerinasai)  — Welcome home",{"id":798,"depth":880,"text":799},{"id":859,"depth":880,"text":860},"Discover the top 12 Japanese greetings to enhance your language skills. Learn these essential phrases now and start speaking like a local.","md",{"timestampUnix":917,"slug":918,"h1":919,"image":920,"tags":925},1755144050128,"top-12-greetings-in-japanese","12 Essential Japanese Greetings: From 'Ohayō' to 'Okaerinasai'",{"src":921,"width":922,"height":923,"alt":924},"\u002Fassets\u002Fblog\u002Fmigaku-japanese-hello.webp",7932,5304,"A Japanese woman waving, to say \"hello\".",[926,927,928],"vocabulary","fundamentals","phrases",true,"\u002Farticle\u002Fjapanese\u002Fjapanese-greetings","---\ntitle: 'Top 12 Japanese Greetings: Meanings, Usage, and Cultural Context'\ndescription: 'Discover the top 12 Japanese greetings to enhance your language skills. Learn these essential phrases now and start speaking like a local.'\ntimestampUnix: 1755144050128\nslug: 'top-12-greetings-in-japanese'\nh1: \"12 Essential Japanese Greetings: From 'Ohayō' to 'Okaerinasai'\"\nimage:\n  src: '\u002Fassets\u002Fblog\u002Fmigaku-japanese-hello.webp'\n  width: 7932\n  height: 5304\n  alt: 'A Japanese woman waving, to say \"hello\".'\ntags:\n  - vocabulary\n  - fundamentals\n  - phrases\n---\n\nGreetings are an important aspect of any language and are used to acknowledge someone's presence, initiate communication, or show respect and friendliness. They are a fundamental aspect of social interaction and can vary widely across different cultures and contexts. Japanese, in particular, has its own set of greetings that you should be familiar with for smooth communication.\n\nIf you want to [learn Japanese](\u002Flearn-japanese), then, this is a good place to start.\n\nHere's a few greetings you'll hear all the time:\n\n\u003Ctoc>\u003C\u002Ftoc>\n\n---\n\n## おはようございます (Ohayōgozaimasu) \u003Ccustom-audio src=\"\u002Fassets\u002Fblog\u002Fおはようございます.m4a\" :type=\"0\">\u003C\u002Fcustom-audio> — Good morning\n\n**Meaning:** Good morning \u003Cbr \u002F>\n**Usage:** From sunrise to noon \u003Cbr \u002F>\n**Kanji form:** \u003Ctypo lang=\"ja\" syntax=\"御[お] 早[はよ,はよう]う 御[ご] 座[ざ,ざる]います\">\u003C\u002Ftypo> \u003Cbr \u002F>\n**Note:** Often shortened to おはよう in casual settings \u003Cbr \u002F>\n\nThe morning greeting, おはようございます, is believed to have originated from Kabuki theater. Kabuki actors, needing ample time for preparation, would arrive and start getting ready well before the performance started. In turn, backstage and lower-ranked staff would use the phrase \u003Ctypo lang=\"ja\" syntax=\"お 早[はや,はやい]い お 着[つ,つく]き で ご ざ[,ざる]います\">\u003C\u002Ftypo>, which means \"You have arrived early,\" as a form of encouragement. Over time, this phrase evolved into its current form.\n\n\u003Cimg src=\"\u002Fassets\u002Fblog\u002FKabuki.webp\" width=\"4288\" height=\"2848\" alt=\"A traditional Japanese Kabuki scene, which originated the phrase ohayou gozaimasu, is displayed in the Edo-Tokyo Museum. It shows three people in different poses, wearing elaborate clothing.\" \u002F>\n\n> In addition to おはよう (ohayō), there is also the greeting おそよう (osoyō), which has a sarcastic connotation. The origin of おはよう stems from the word \u003Ctypo lang=\"ja\" syntax=\"早[はや,はやう]う\">\u003C\u002Ftypo> (hayau), meaning \"early\", while おそよう is derived from \u003Ctypo lang=\"ja\" syntax=\"遅[おそ,おそい]い\">\u003C\u002Ftypo> (osoi), meaning \"late.\" Thus, it can be used as a sarcastic greeting for someone who arrives late in the morning.\n\n## こんにちは (Konnichiwa) \u003Ccustom-audio src=\"\u002Fassets\u002Fblog\u002Fこんにちは.m4a\" :type=\"0\">\u003C\u002Fcustom-audio> — Good day\n\n**Meaning:** Good day \u003Cbr \u002F>\n**When to use:** From noon to right before sunset \u003Cbr \u002F>\n**Kanji form:** \u003Ctypo lang=\"ja\" syntax=\"今日[こんにち] は\">\u003C\u002Ftypo> \u003Cbr \u002F>\n**Note:** - \u003Cbr \u002F>\n\nA long time ago, greetings like \u003Ctypo lang=\"ja\" syntax=\"今日[こんにち] は、ご 機嫌[きげん] いか が です か\">\u003C\u002Ftypo> (How are you today?) and \u003Ctypo lang=\"ja\" syntax=\"今日[こんにち] は、いい[,いい] お 天気[てんき] です ね\">\u003C\u002Ftypo> (Nice weather today, isn't it?) have been used. However, in the Meiji era, textbooks omitted the part of the greeting following \u003Ctypo lang=\"ja\" syntax=\"今日[こんにち] は\">\u003C\u002Ftypo> and instead wrote こんにちは, which became widely adopted.\n\nWhile in writing こんにちわ is occasionally used by some people as well, knowing its origin tells us that こんにちは is the correct form.\n\n## こんばんは (Kombanwa) \u003Ccustom-audio src=\"\u002Fassets\u002Fblog\u002Fこんばんは.m4a\" :type=\"0\">\u003C\u002Fcustom-audio> — Good evening\n\n**Meaning:** Good evening \u003Cbr \u002F>\n**When to use:** From sunset to right before sunrise \u003Cbr \u002F>\n**Kanji form:** \u003Ctypo lang=\"ja\" syntax=\"今晩[こんばん] は\">\u003C\u002Ftypo> \u003Cbr \u002F>\n**Note:** - \u003Cbr \u002F>\n\nこんばんは originally included additional words, similar to こんにちは. However, these words were eventually omitted, resulting in the simplified form こんばんは.\n\n## おやすみなさい (Oyasuminasai) \u003Ccustom-audio src=\"\u002Fassets\u002Fblog\u002Fおやすみなさい.m4a\" :type=\"0\">\u003C\u002Fcustom-audio> — Good night\n\n**Meaning:** Good night \u003Cbr \u002F>\n**When to use:** Before someone goes to bed \u003Cbr \u002F>\n**Kanji form:** \u003Ctypo lang=\"ja\" syntax=\"御[お] 休[やす,やすむ]みなさい\">\u003C\u002Ftypo> \u003Cbr \u002F>\n**Note:** Often shortened to おやすみ in casual speech \u003Cbr \u002F>\n\nおやすみなさい is used when another person is about to go to bed, to wish them a good night. Since it seems that it is constructed from the word \u003Ctypo lang=\"ja\" syntax=\"休[やす,やすむ]む\">\u003C\u002Ftypo> (yasumu), meaning \"to rest\", and the command form なさい (nasai), some people may find this phrase odd, as it seems like you are giving an order to someone.\nThis good night phrase is thought to come from \u003Ctypo lang=\"ja\" syntax=\"ゆっくり と お 休[やす,やすむ]み に なっ[,なる]て ください\">\u003C\u002Ftypo>, originally meaning \"Please have a restful sleep,\" which was used by innkeepers. Eventually, it evolved into the abbreviated form おやすみなさい we know today.\n\n---\n\n## はじめまして (Hajimemashite) \u003Ccustom-audio src=\"\u002Fassets\u002Fblog\u002F初めまして.m4a\" :type=\"0\">\u003C\u002Fcustom-audio> — Nice to meet you\n\n**Meaning:** Nice to meet you \u003Cbr \u002F>\n**When to use:** When meeting someone for the first time \u003Cbr \u002F>\n**Kanji form:** \u003Ctypo lang=\"ja\" syntax=\"初[はじ]めまして\">\u003C\u002Ftypo>; \u003Ctypo lang=\"ja\" syntax=\"始[はじ]めまして\">\u003C\u002Ftypo> \u003Cbr \u002F>\n**Note:** - \u003Cbr \u002F>\n\n\u003Cp>\n\u003Ctypo lang=\"ja\" syntax=\"初[はじ]めまして\">\u003C\u002Ftypo> is a greeting that is used when meeting someone for the first time. It's believed to be a shortened version of phrases like \u003Ctypo lang=\"ja\" syntax=\"初[はじ]めまして お 目[め] に かか[,かかる]りまして\">\u003C\u002Ftypo> (Nice to meet you for the first time), which simply acknowledges the first encounter.\n\u003C\u002Fp>\n\nInterestingly, this greeting ends with the conjunctive て-form, which indicates the continuation of an action, thus hinting that further words will follow. In practice, it's often followed by self-introductions such as \u003Ctypo lang=\"ja\" syntax=\"初[はじ]めまして、高橋[たかはし] と 申[もう,もうす]します\">\u003C\u002Ftypo> (Nice to meet you, I'm Takahashi).\n\n## よろしくおねがいします (Yoroshiku onegaishimasu) \u003Ccustom-audio src=\"\u002Fassets\u002Fblog\u002Fよろしくお願いします.m4a\" :type=\"0\">\u003C\u002Fcustom-audio> — (No exact translation)\n\n**Meaning:** Please remember me; please treat me well \u003Cbr \u002F>\n**When to use:** (See discussion below) \u003Cbr \u002F>\n**Kanji form:** \u003Ctypo lang=\"ja\" syntax=\"宜[よろ,よろしい]しく 御[お] 願[ねが,ねがう]い し[,する]ます\">\u003C\u002Ftypo> \u003Cbr \u002F>\n**Note:** Sometimes shortened to よろしく in casual settings, or よろ if you want to be really casual \u003Cbr \u002F>\n\n\u003Cp>\n\u003Ctypo lang=\"ja\" syntax=\"よろしく お 願[ねが,ねがう]い し[,する]ます\">\u003C\u002Ftypo> can be broken down into two parts: よろしく and \u003Ctypo lang=\"ja\" syntax=\"お 願[ねが,ねがう]い し[,する]ます\">\u003C\u002Ftypo>.\n\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n- The latter part, \u003Ctypo lang=\"ja\" syntax=\"お 願[ねが,ねがう]い し[,する]ます\">\u003C\u002Ftypo>, is a common phrase used when making a request, similar to \"please\" in English.\n\n- As for the former part, よろしく, it's an older Japanese term that conveys a meaning like \"suitably\" or \"properly\".\n\n\u003Cp>\n\u003Ctypo lang=\"ja\" syntax=\"よろしく お 願[ねが,ねがう]い し[,する]ます\">\u003C\u002Ftypo> could be directly translated to something like \"Please do properly\". However, as is typical for Japanese, it is a rather vague expression that leaves the action open to interpretation. Putting the phrase together, you can think of the translation as \"Please do what you think is appropriate within your capabilities.\" This vague approach is helpful because it makes an outright refusal less likely and improves the flow of the conversation.\n\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n> Despite often being associated with a greeting when first meeting someone, \u003Ctypo lang=\"ja\" syntax=\"よろしく お 願[ねが,ねがう]い し[,する]ます\">\u003C\u002Ftypo> has a much broader usage than that. Here are some of the most common ones.\n\n### As \"Nice to meet you\" in a self-introduction\n\nWhen introducing oneself for the first time, after stating one's name, place of origin, occupation, etc., one says \u003Ctypo lang=\"ja\" syntax=\"よろしく お 願[ねが,ねがう]い し[,する]ます\">\u003C\u002Ftypo> at the end. In this context, it is equivalent to \"Nice to meet you\" in English.\n\n### When starting a meeting or interview\n\nAfter the facilitator gives the opening remarks, they say \u003Ctypo lang=\"ja\" syntax=\"よろしく お 願[ねが,ねがう]い し[,する]ます\">\u003C\u002Ftypo>. In this context, it carries the meaning similar to \"Shall we begin\" or \"Let's get started\" in English. It's common for participants to respond by saying \u003Ctypo lang=\"ja\" syntax=\"よろしく お 願[ねが,ねがう]い し[,する]ます\">\u003C\u002Ftypo> in return.\n\n### When expressing gratitude\n\nAs mentioned earlier, \u003Ctypo lang=\"ja\" syntax=\"よろしく お 願[ねが,ねがう]い し[,する]ます\">\u003C\u002Ftypo> doesn't necessarily specify requests, but it _can_ be used for making them.\n\n\u003Cp>\n\u003Ctypo lang=\"ja\" syntax=\"ご 確認[かくにん] の ほど よろしく お 願[ねが,ねがう]い いた[,いたす]します\">\u003C\u002Ftypo>\n(I kindly ask for your confirmation.)\n\u003C\u002Fp>\n\nAdding よろしく when making a request can soften it, conveying the sentiment of \"I would like to request.\"\n\n### Used at the end of an email\n\nWhile it's rarely used between friends, in business settings, \u003Ctypo lang=\"ja\" syntax=\"よろしく お 願[ねが,ねがう]い し[,する]ます\">\u003C\u002Ftypo> is typically written at the end of emails. This usage is similar to \"Best regards\" or \"Yours truly\" in English.\n\n\u003Cblockquote>\n\u003Cp>\n\u003Ctypo lang=\"ja\" syntax=\"よろしく お 願[ねが,ねがう]い し[,する]ます\">\u003C\u002Ftypo> is used in various other situations as well. For example, when confessing feelings or proposing to someone, they might respond with \u003Ctypo lang=\"ja\" syntax=\"よろしく お 願[ねが,ねがう]い し[,する]ます\">\u003C\u002Ftypo> as a way of saying \"OK\".\n\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003C\u002Fblockquote>\n\nAs you can see, due to its various usages, \u003Ctypo lang=\"ja\" syntax=\"よろしく お 願[ねが,ねがう]い し[,する]ます\">\u003C\u002Ftypo> is one of those expressions that is better learned through getting copious amounts of exposure to the language.\n\n---\n\n## いただきます (Itadakimasu) \u003Ccustom-audio src=\"\u002Fassets\u002Fblog\u002Fいただきます.m4a\" :type=\"0\">\u003C\u002Fcustom-audio> — (Say before eating a meal)\n\n**Meaning:** Thank you (for the meal just served) \u003Cbr \u002F>\n**When to use:** Before starting to eat \u003Cbr \u002F>\n**Kanji form:** \u003Ctypo lang=\"ja\" syntax=\"頂[いただ,いただく]きます\">\u003C\u002Ftypo> \u003Cbr \u002F>\n**Note:** - \u003Cbr \u002F>\n\nいただきます comes from the word いただく (itadaku). いただく originally referred to the act of raising something over ones head when consuming an offering in honor of the gods, or when receiving something from someone of higher status.\nFrom this, it came to be used as an honorific expression for \"eating\" or \"receiving\".\n\nEventually, いただきます established itself as a customary pre-meal greeting.\n\n\u003Cimg src=\"\u002Fassets\u002Fblog\u002FIzakaya.webp\" width=\"5184\" height=\"3703\" alt=\"In a cozy Japanese Izakaya, people exchange greetings before saying itadakimasu and enjoying their meal, seated around a wooden table.\" \u002F>\n\n> いただきます expresses gratitude in two ways.\n>\n> The first is gratitude towards those that were involved in preparing the meal, serving it, growing the vegetables, catching the fish, and any others who contributed to it.\n>\n> The second is gratitude towards the ingredients. Not only for animals who gave their life, but also for vegetables and fruits, as it is believed that they also have life force.\n\n## ごちそうさま (Gochisōsama) \u003Ccustom-audio src=\"\u002Fassets\u002Fblog\u002Fごちそうさま.m4a\" :type=\"0\">\u003C\u002Fcustom-audio> — (Say after eating a meal)\n\n**Meaning:** Thank you for the meal \u003Cbr \u002F>\n**When to use:** After finishing a meal \u003Cbr \u002F>\n**Kanji form:** \u003Ctypo lang=\"ja\" syntax=\"御[ご] 馳走[ちそう] 様[さま]\">\u003C\u002Ftypo> \u003Cbr \u002F>\n**Note:** Sometimes shortened to just ごち in very informal situations \u003Cbr \u002F>\n\nIn the past, before refrigerators and supermarkets existed as they do now, gathering ingredients was a challenging task. \u003Ctypo lang=\"ja\" syntax=\"馳走[ちそう]\">\u003C\u002Ftypo> (chisō) originally meant to run around, depicting the effort put into preparing and serving a meal. By adding the polite prefix \u003Ctypo lang=\"ja\" syntax=\"御[ご]\">\u003C\u002Ftypo> (go) and the honorific suffix \u003Ctypo lang=\"ja\" syntax=\"様[さま]\">\u003C\u002Ftypo> (sama) to \u003Ctypo lang=\"ja\" syntax=\"馳走[ちそう]\">\u003C\u002Ftypo>, it became ごちそうさま.\n\nIn modern times, various ingredients are easily accessible all around us. However, planning daily menus, shopping, and preparing meals still requires considerable effort. Therefore, ごちそうさま or ごちそうさまでした are used as expressions of gratitude and appreciation for the hard work.\n\n---\n\n## いってらっしゃい (Itterasshai) \u003Ccustom-audio src=\"\u002Fassets\u002Fblog\u002F行ってらっしゃい.m4a\" :type=\"0\">\u003C\u002Fcustom-audio> — Roughly \"take care\"\n\n**Meaning:** Have a good day; take care \u003Cbr \u002F>\n**When to use:** Parting phrase directed at someone leaving \u003Cbr \u002F>\n**Kanji form:** \u003Ctypo lang=\"ja\" syntax=\"行[い,いく]って らっしゃ[,らっしゃる]い\">\u003C\u002Ftypo> \u003Cbr \u002F>\n**Note:** - \u003Cbr \u002F>\n\nOriginally いってらっしゃい was created by combining \u003Ctypo lang=\"ja\" syntax=\"行[い,いく]く\">\u003C\u002Ftypo> (iku), meaning \"to go,\" and いらっしゃい (irasshai), meaning \"to come,\" and creating a phrase that encompasses both.\n\nいってらっしゃい carries the meaning of \"Go and return safely,\" emphasizing a wish for the person to depart and return safely.\n\n## いってきます (Ittekimasu) \u003Ccustom-audio src=\"\u002Fassets\u002Fblog\u002Fいってきます.m4a\" :type=\"0\">\u003C\u002Fcustom-audio> — roughly \"I'm off\"\n\n**Meaning:** I'm off; see you later \u003Cbr \u002F>\n**When to use:** Parting phrase used by the person leaving \u003Cbr \u002F>\n**Kanji form:** \u003Ctypo lang=\"ja\" syntax=\"行[い,いく]って 来[き,くる]ます\">\u003C\u002Ftypo> \u003Cbr \u002F>\n**Note:** - \u003Cbr \u002F>\n\n\u003Cp>\n\u003Ctypo lang=\"ja\" syntax=\"行[い,いく]って き[,くる]ます\">\u003C\u002Ftypo> combines \u003Ctypo lang=\"ja\" syntax=\"行[い,いく]く\">\u003C\u002Ftypo> (iku), meaning \"to go\", and \u003Ctypo lang=\"ja\" syntax=\"帰[かえ,かえる]って き[,くる]ます\">\u003C\u002Ftypo> (kaettekimasu), meaning \"coming back.\" Therefore, it carries the meaning of \"I'm leaving now, and I'll be back\". In the past, traveling was often dangerous, so by saying いってきます, it was like making a vow to return without fail.\n\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n## ただいま (Tadaima) \u003Ccustom-audio src=\"\u002Fassets\u002Fblog\u002Fただいま.m4a\" :type=\"0\">\u003C\u002Fcustom-audio> — I'm back!\n\n**Meaning:** I'm home!; I'm back! \u003Cbr \u002F>\n**When to use:** Said when one has returned or come home \u003Cbr \u002F>\n**Kanji form:** \u003Ctypo lang=\"ja\" syntax=\"只今[ただいま]\">\u003C\u002Ftypo> \u003Cbr \u002F>\n**Note:** - \u003Cbr \u002F>\n\nただいま is thought of as being a shortened form of \u003Ctypo lang=\"ja\" syntax=\"只今[ただいま] 帰[かえ,かえる]りました\">\u003C\u002Ftypo> (I have just returned).\n\n\u003Cp>\n\u003Ctypo lang=\"ja\" syntax=\"今[いま]\">\u003C\u002Ftypo> (ima) on its own already expresses \"now\", while \u003Ctypo lang=\"ja\" syntax=\"只今[ただいま]\">\u003C\u002Ftypo> intensifies this meaning, signifying not just the present moment but also indicating very recent past events, such as \"just now\" or \"a moment ago.\"\n\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n## おかえりなさい (Okaerinasai) \u003Ccustom-audio src=\"\u002Fassets\u002Fblog\u002Fお帰りなさい.m4a\" :type=\"0\">\u003C\u002Fcustom-audio> — Welcome home\n\n**Meaning:** Welcome home \u003Cbr \u002F>\n**When to use:** Greeting said by the person already there towards someone coming home \u003Cbr \u002F>\n**Kanji form:** \u003Ctypo lang=\"ja\" syntax=\"御[お] 帰[かえ,かえる]りなさい\">\u003C\u002Ftypo> \u003Cbr \u002F>\n**Note:** Often shortened to おかえり \u003Cbr \u002F>\n\nOriginally, \u003Ctypo lang=\"ja\" syntax=\"お 帰[かえ,かえる]りなさい\">\u003C\u002Ftypo> was expressed as \u003Ctypo lang=\"ja\" syntax=\"よく[,いい] ご 無事 に、お 帰[かえ,かえる]り なさ[,なさる]いました\">\u003C\u002Ftypo> (Welcome back, I'm glad you've returned safely), but it was shortened over time to the form we know today.\n\nThere is also a more polite form with \u003Ctypo lang=\"ja\" syntax=\"お 帰[かえ,かえる]り なさ[,なさる]いませ\">\u003C\u002Ftypo>.\n\n## ... want to learn Japanese for real?\n\nThe first chapter of any textbook will start you off with greetings, and they're the start of every single conversation, so you'd be forgiven if you wanted to learn Japanese and decided that the best place to do that would be with greetings.\n\nThe thing is, you'd also be wrong.\n\nWhen we dumped [every single word in Japanese Netflix into a spreadsheet](\u002Fblog\u002Fjapanese\u002Fhow-to-learn-japanese-vocabulary) and then organized them by frequency, we made two very practical discoveries:\n\n1. To have an 80% chance of recognizing any word you see in any Japanese show, you only need to know about 1,500 words\n2. Words like こんにちは aren't actually _that_ common\n\nSo, this data in our back pocket, we set out to build the most optimal Japanese course possible:\n\n\u003Cimg src=\"\u002Fassets\u002Fblog\u002Fmigaku-japanese-academy-greetings.jpeg\" width=\"1648\" height=\"1152\" alt=\"A screenshot of the Migaku Japanese Academy, showing how we help users learn Japanese words and grammar points \" \u002F>\n\nIt's a flashcard-based course (backed by [spaced repetition](\u002Fblog\u002Flanguage-fun\u002Fspaced-repetition-language-learning), of course). Each flashcard includes one new word, and the example sentence that word appears in will help you reinforce an important sentence structure.\n\nThe course will take about 6 months to finish, at a pace of 10 words (~30 minutes) per day, and with this foundation under you, you'll be ready to start stumbling your way through _real_ Japanese content.\n\n\u003Cprose-button href=\"\u002Flearn-japanese\" text=\"Learn Japanese with Migaku\">\u003C\u002Fprose-button>\n\n---\n\n## You can say hello in Japanese... but now what?\n\nAs you can see, greetings in Japanese are often not simply words, but constructs made with different grammar structures applied to them. Learning these grammar points can help you memorize specific greetings and make more sense of them.\n\nThis is a lot—we admit—but it's also not something you need to go out of your way and stress about. Behold the golden rule of language learning:\n\n> If you consume media you enjoy in Japanese, and you understand some of the messages and sentences within that media, you will make progress. _Period_.\n\nGood luck, friend\n",{"title":5,"description":914},"article\u002Fjapanese\u002Fjapanese-greetings","NALQZC6_5mE9yZYnp0bjOAwModNwaRiGFOGg--nT2fY","August 14, 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