1.
greeting; salutation; formal address
The polite/honorific form of 挨拶, used in formal contexts such as business, ceremonies, and official communication. Covers spoken greetings, formal speeches, and written salutations.
ご挨拶を申し上げます。
I offer my greetings. (formal opening phrase)
社長からご挨拶がありました。
There was a greeting from the company president.
年末のご挨拶に伺いたいのですが。
I would like to visit to give my year-end greetings.
メールの冒頭にご挨拶を書く。
To write a greeting at the beginning of an email.
The honorific form of 挨拶, formed by adding the prefix ご. Used in formal, business, and ceremonial contexts. In Japanese business culture, greetings are an important social ritual — visiting clients for seasonal greetings or giving a formal speech at events are standard expectations.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- ご挨拶を申し上げる: to offer one's greetings (very formal)
- ご挨拶に伺う: to visit to pay one's respects
- ご挨拶回り: going around to give greetings (e.g., to neighbors, business contacts)
- 年末年始のご挨拶: year-end/new year greetings
- 社長のご挨拶: the president's address/greeting
COMMON SITUATIONS:
- 引っ越しのご挨拶: greeting neighbors when moving in
- 結婚式のご挨拶: wedding speech
- 退職のご挨拶: farewell greeting upon leaving a job
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 挨拶: greeting — the plain form, used in everyday/casual contexts
- 祝辞: congratulatory speech — a more specific formal term for celebratory addresses