Phrases with a Time and a Place
Japanese daily life runs on ζ¨ζΆ (greetings) and ζ±ΊγΎγζε₯ (set phrases). They are said at fixed moments β leaving the house, sitting down to eat, arriving at a friend's door, finishing work β and most of them have no exact English equivalent, because English does not mark those moments at all. Learning them is less a matter of vocabulary than of knowing when to say them. Many come in a casual and a polite version, and choosing the right one is part of using the phrase correctly.
Through the Day
- γγ―γγ / γγ―γγγγγγΎγ β Good morning. Used until about ten or eleven; in many workplaces it is also the first greeting of the day whenever your shift starts, even in the evening.
- γγγ«γ‘γ― β Hello, good afternoon. Not used among family or close colleagues you see every day.
- γγγ°γγ― β Good evening.
- γγγγΏ / γγγγΏγͺγγ β Good night, said when someone is going to bed or when parting late at night.
Leaving and Coming Home
These four phrases are exchanged in pairs and are used every single day in Japanese households, offices, and schools.
- θ‘γ£γ¦γγΎγ β I'm off (literally "I'll go and come back"), said by the person leaving.
- θ‘γ£γ¦γγ£γγγ β See you later, take care, said by the person staying.
- γγ γγΎ β I'm home (literally "just now"), said on returning.
- γγγγ / γεΈ°γγͺγγ β Welcome back, the reply.
Meals
- γγγ γγΎγ β said before eating, with the hands together. Literally "I humbly receive," it thanks the cook, the host, and the food itself. Say it even when eating alone.
- γγ‘γγγγΎ / γγ‘γγγγΎγ§γγ β said after eating, and also to a host or a restaurant staff member on leaving; literally "it was a feast."
Visiting and Being Visited
- γιͺιγγΎγ β said when stepping into someone's home ("excuse me for intruding"); γιͺιγγΎγγ when leaving.
- γγγ£γγγ β Welcome, come in. Shops and restaurants use the more formal γγγ£γγγγΎγ.
- γ©γγ β Please, go ahead: offered with a seat, a cup of tea, or an open door.
- ε€±η€ΌγγΎγ β Excuse me, said on entering or leaving an office or a room; the past form ε€±η€ΌγγΎγγ apologizes for something you have just done.
At Work
- γη²γζ§ / γη²γγγΎγ§γ / γη²γζ§γ§γγ β the all-purpose workplace phrase: a greeting to colleagues, thanks for effort, and a goodbye at the end of the day. Use γ§γ to someone still working and γ§γγ to someone finishing.
- γθ¦ε΄ζ§ β thanks for your work, said only downward, from a superior to a subordinate. Never say it to your boss.
- γε γ«ε€±η€ΌγγΎγ β Excuse me for leaving before you, said when going home while others are still working. The usual reply is γη²γζ§γ§γγ.
- γδΈθ©±γ«γͺγ£γ¦γγγΎγ β a standard opening on the phone and in email to clients and business partners ("thank you for your continued support"); γδΈθ©±γ«γͺγγΎγγ when a relationship or a stay ends.
- γγγγγι‘γγγΎγ β the phrase that closes introductions, requests, and emails. It asks for goodwill in the relationship to come, and has no English equivalent; "I look forward to working with you" comes closest.
Meeting People
- γ―γγγΎγγ¦ β How do you do, on first meeting, followed by your name and γγγγγι‘γγγΎγ.
- δΉ γγΆγ / γδΉ γγΆγγ§γ β Long time no see. The very formal version, γη‘ζ²ζ±°γγ¦γγγΎγ, apologizes for not having been in touch.
- γε ζ°γ§γγ β How are you? Unlike English "how are you," this is asked only after some time apart, and the standard answer is γγγγγΎγ§ ("thanks to you"), which can also stand alone as a modest "I'm fine."
Thanks and Apologies
- γγγγ¨γ / γγγγ¨γγγγγΎγ / γγγγ¨γγγγγΎγγ β Thank you; the past form is used once the favor is complete.
- γ©γγγγγΎγγ¦ β You're welcome, though a modest γγγ or γ¨γγ§γγͺγ is more common.
- γγΏγΎγγ β Excuse me, sorry, and thank you all at once: it apologizes, gets attention, and acknowledges a favor that cost someone effort.
- γγγ / γγγγͺγγ β Sorry, for personal apologies among people you know.
- η³γ訳γγγΎγγ / η³γ訳γγγγΎγγ β I am very sorry, the formal apology used in business and to customers.
- γεΎ γγγγΎγγ β Sorry to have kept you waiting; heard at every counter and restaurant.
- ζγε ₯γγΎγ β a formal thank-you or apology for troubling someone, used when asking a favor or accepting help.
- γγ‘γγγ β The pleasure is mine; likewise. The reply when someone thanks you or says γγγγγι‘γγγΎγ and you feel the same.
Special Occasions
- γγγ§γ¨γ / γγγ§γ¨γγγγγΎγ β Congratulations, for birthdays, weddings, exams passed, and new babies.
- γ倧δΊγ« β Take care of yourself, to someone who is ill.
- ζ°γγ€γγ¦ β Take care, be careful, said to someone setting out on a trip or heading home.
- ι εΌ΅γ£γ¦ β Good luck, do your best, before an exam, a match, or a hard day.
- γγγγ β Welcome, to a visitor or a new member.
- ζγγΎγγ¦γγγ§γ¨γγγγγΎγ β Happy New Year, said from January 1 onward and followed by δ»εΉ΄γγγγγγι‘γγγΎγ; before the year ends, people part with θ―γγεΉ΄γ (have a good New Year).
Tips for Learners
- Learn the pairs together. θ‘γ£γ¦γγΎγ expects θ‘γ£γ¦γγ£γγγ; γγ γγΎ expects γγγγ. Half a pair sounds incomplete.
- Match the level. γγγγΎγ, γͺγγ, and γ§γγ turn a casual phrase into a polite one; use the polite forms with anyone who is not family or a close friend.
- Watch the direction. γθ¦ε΄ζ§ goes only downward; γη²γζ§ works in every direction.
- Do not translate γγγγγι‘γγγΎγ. Learn the situations instead: after introductions, when asking a favor, at the end of a request.
- Use γγΏγΎγγ generously. It is the most versatile phrase in the language, and it is rarely wrong.
- See also The Basic Keigo System for the polite forms these phrases are built on, and Referring to People for how to address the people you greet.