こんにちは
konnichiwa
Hello
A daytime greeting. The final は is pronounced wa here.
ONE CLEAR STEP AT A TIME
Hello, Japan — beginner Japanese lesson
Start a conversation with three little words. Learn three expressions with pronunciation guides, usage notes and a recall check.
Learning goal: recognise three useful expressions, explain their meanings, and recall them in a short check.
Read each phrase and its context. The app provides device-based audio if a Japanese voice is installed. The full written lesson below works without JavaScript.
Practise this lesson →おはようございます
ohayō gozaimasu
Good morning
The polite morning greeting. With friends, おはよう is enough.
こんばんは
konbanwa
Good evening
Use this when greeting someone in the evening. The final は sounds like wa.
Try to recall the meaning
Read each Japanese phrase before opening its answer. You can also do the three-question interactive check in the lesson workspace.
こんにちは
Hello · A daytime greeting. The final は is pronounced wa here.
おはようございます
Good morning · The polite morning greeting. With friends, おはよう is enough.
こんばんは
Good evening · Use this when greeting someone in the evening. The final は sounds like wa.
Your next clear step
Revisit the phrases once without the English meanings. Then continue with A little kindness.
Beginner roadmap · All foundation lessons · Beyond the foundations