おはようございます

おはようございます
expression
good morning (polite)
politegreeting
See also: おはよう (casual form)
1. good morning (polite)
The polite morning greeting, the ございます form of おはよう. Used until about ten or eleven in the morning; in workplaces with shifts it is the first greeting whenever work begins, even in the evening, and among performers and staff it opens any working day.
おはようございます。今日(きょう)もいい天気(てんき)ですね。
Good morning. Nice weather again today, isn't it?
先生(せんせい)に「おはようございます」と挨拶(あいさつ)した。
I greeted the teacher with 'good morning.'
アルバイト先(さき)では、夜(よる)のシフトでも最初(さいしょ)の挨拶(あいさつ)は「おはようございます」だ。
At my part-time job, the first greeting is 'good morning' even on the night shift.

The standard greeting for the start of the day. Among family and close friends the short form おはよう is used; with anyone else, or in a first exchange of the day at work, use the full form.

Usage

  • Said once, at the first meeting of the day; later meetings get a nod or お疲(つか)れさまです
  • In restaurants, theaters, and shift work, said at the start of work at any hour
  • こんにちは replaces it from late morning in ordinary situations

Etymology

From お早(はや)く (early) with the sound change く → う (音便(おんびん)); the original sense is 'you are early.' The same change produced ありがとう from ありがたく.

Related words

Related Words

Related: こんにちは (hello)
Related: こんばんは (good evening)
Related: 音便(おんびん) (euphonic sound change)
general
Added 2026.9.10 0:51 · Revised 2026.9.10 0:54
30500/30844_ohayougozaimasu