Human Japanese Chapter 6: Greetings
| Word | Definition | Etymology/Quote |
|---|---|---|
| おはよう 御早う お早う おはよー (Tokyo) おはよー [òháyóó] (Heiban – [0]) |
1. good morning Usage notes Most often written in hiragana. May occasionally be seen spelled in kanji, generally for more formal writing. Usually followed by ございます (gozaimasu, “it is”, formal) in less casual contexts.[1][2][3] This phrase is said to people whom one meets in the first time in a day. Therefore, sometimes this phrase can also be heard in the afternoon or even in the evening, especially among night shift workers and entertainment industry, etc. However, as people mostly meet each other in the morning, this phrase is translated as “good morning” under normal circumstances. |
おはようございます good morning Usage notes In more casual speech, may be shortened to just おはよう (ohayō). Also spelled in kanji various ways. Generally, the more kanji used, the more formal the written form. This phrase is said to people whom one meets in the first time in a day. Therefore, sometimes this phrase can also be heard in the afternoon or even in the evening, especially among night shift workers and entertainment industry, etc. However, as people mostly meet each other in the morning, this phrase is translated as “good morning” under normal circumstances.” |
ございます 御座います (Tokyo) ございます [gòzáímáꜜsù] (Nakadaka – [4]) |
1. formal polite form of ある (aru): to exist (synonym: あります) 2. auxiliary formal polite form of ある (aru) |
おあつらえ向(む)きのお品(しな)しながございます。 We have items that are suitable for you. (literally, “Items that are suitable for you exist.”) お早(はや)うございます。 Good morning. ありがとうございました。 Thank you. 誠(まこと)に嬉(うれ)しゅうございます。 I am truly happy. 死(し)にとうございます。 I want to die. 食(しょく)品(ひん)売(う)り場(ば)は地(ち)下(か)にございます。 The food department is in the basement. かばん売(う)り場(ば)は１(いっ)階(かい)でございます。 The bag department is on the 1st floor. |
| 今日 は こんにちは (Tokyo) こんにちは [kòńníchí wáꜜ] (Odaka – [5])[1] IPA(key): [kõ̞ɲ̟ːit͡ɕi β̞a̠] |
1. good day, good afternoon: a Japanese greeting used in the daytime | Etymology From 今日 (konnichi, “this day, today”) + は (wa, topic particle); shortened from expressions like the following: 今(こん)日(にち)は御(ご)機(き)嫌(げん)いかがですか。 How are you doing today? 今(こん)日(にち)は良(よ)い天(てん)気(き)ですね。 It’s fine weather today, isn’t it?” |
今晚は (kyūjitai) こんばんは (Tokyo) こんばんは [kòńbáń wáꜜ] (Odaka – [5])[1] IPA(key): [kõ̞mba̠ɰ̃ β̞a̠] |
1. A Japanese greeting used in the evening; good evening. | |
| 御休みなさい お休みなさい (Tokyo) おやすみなさい [òyásúmí násáꜜì] (Nakadaka – [6])[1] (Tokyo) おやすみなさい [òyásúmí násáí] (Heiban – [0])[1] IPA(key): [o̞ja̠sɨmʲi na̠sa̠i] |
1. good night | 幹(みき)子(こ)は、寝(ね)床(どこ)の中(なか)からお月(つき)様(さま)の方(ほう)を見(み)あげて「お月(つき)様(さま)おやすみなさい」 そう言(い)って枕(まくら)に頭(あたま)をつけて、お月(つき)様(さま)を見(み)ながら、お母(かあ)様(さま)の子(こ)守(もり)唄(うた)をききました。 Mikiko looked at the moon from her bed. “Goodnight, moon,” Mikiko said, and rested her head on her pillow, listening to her mother’s lullaby while gazing at the moon.” |
どうもありがとう (Tokyo) どーも・ありがとー [dóꜜòmò àríꜜgàtòò] (Atamadaka + Nakadaka – [1]-[2]) IPA(key): [do̞ːmo̞ a̠ɾʲiɡa̠to̞ː] |
1. thank you very much | Etymology Phrase consisting of どうも (dōmo, “very”) + ありがとう (arigatō, “thank you”). Usage notes Expressions of thanks are given below in rough order of casual to polite. Note that gozaimasu changes to gozaimashita when referring to events in the past. Coordinate terms どうも (dōmo) おおきに (ōkini) (chiefly Kansai) ありがとう (arigatō) どうもありがとう (dōmo arigatō) ありがとうございます (arigatō gozaimasu) どうもありがとうございます (dōmo arigatō gozaimasu)” |
どうも (Tokyo) どーも [dóꜜòmò] (Atamadaka – [1])[2][3] IPA(key): [do̞ːmo̞] |
Adverb 1. no matter how; not at all (used with negative verbs) 2. somehow; something 3. quite; very much Interjection 1. (short for どうもありがとう) thanks 2. (short for どうもすみません) sorry, excuse me |
Etymology Derived as compound of どう (dō, “how”, question word) + も (mo, “ever, even, also”, particle).[1] Literal meaning is close to “no matter how, howsoever, in all cases”. Idiomatically and semantically used as an intensifier in specific contexts. Compare とても (totemo, “very”). 理(り)解(かい)できない。 No matter how, I can’t understand it. → I just can’t understand it. この人(ひと)の話(はなし)方(かた)が変(へん)だ。 This person’s way of talking is strange somehow. / There’s something strange in how this person talks. あの商人(あきんど)はどうもしつこいよね。 That shopkeeper is quite persistent, isn’t he.” |
どう致しまして どういたしまして (Tokyo) どー・いたしまして [dóꜜò ìtáshímáꜜshìtè] (Atamadaka + Nakadaka – [1]-[4]) IPA(key): [do̞ː ita̠ɕima̠ɕi̥te̞] |
1. you’re welcome; my pleasure; no problem | Usage notes Used only when the speaker did something to be thanked. For a mutually beneficial action such as selling and buying, こちらこそありがとうございます (kochira koso arigatō gozaimasu) etc. is used.” |
こちらこそありがとうございます Pronunciation (Tokyo) こちらこそ・ありがとーございます [kòchírákóꜜsò àríꜜgàtòò gòzàìmàsù] (Nakadaka + Nakadaka – [4]-[2]) IPA(key): [ko̞t͡ɕiɾa̠ko̞so̞ a̠ɾʲiɡa̠to̞ː ɡo̞za̠ima̠sɨ̥] |
1. you’re welcome, my pleasure | Etymology Compound of こちらこそ + ありがとうございます, literally, “it is I who should be thankful”.” |
こちらこそ (Tokyo) こちらこそ [kòchírákóꜜsò] (Nakadaka – [4]) IPA(key): [ko̞t͡ɕiɾa̠ko̞so̞] |
1. (used as a response) I’m the one that should really be saying that. | Etymology こちら (kochira, “this person, I”) + こそ (koso, “it is… that”) A: 「どうもありがとう。」 B: 「こちらこそ。」 A: “Thank you very much.” B: “No, thank you.” A: 「ごめんなさい。」 B: 「いいえ、こちらこそ。ごめんなさい。」 A: “Forgive me.” B: “No, I’m the one that should be sorry. Forgive me.”” |
初(はじ)めまして 始(はじ)めまして (Tokyo) はじめまして [hàjímémáꜜshìtè] (Nakadaka – [4]) IPA(key): [ha̠ʑime̞ma̠ɕi̥te̞] |
1. pleased to meet you; nice to meet you; how do you do | はじめまして「大統領閣下(ミスタープレジデント)」 I am glad to meet you, “Mr. President”” |
お初(はつ)にお目(め)にかかります お初にお目に掛(か)かります (Tokyo) おはつにおめにかかります [òhátsú ní ómé ní kákárímáꜜsù] (Nakadaka – [11]) IPA(key): [o̞ha̠t͡sɨ ɲ̟i o̞me̞ ɲ̟i ka̠ka̠ɾʲima̠sɨ̥] |
1. (very formal) pleased to meet you | |
| 宜(よろ)しく よろしく AF: 4649 (slang) 夜露死苦 (slang) 宜敷く (rare) (Tokyo) よろしく [yòróꜜshìkù] (Nakadaka – [2])[1] (Tokyo) よろしく [yòróshíkú] (Heiban – [0])[1] IPA(key): [jo̞ɾo̞ɕi̥kɯ̟] |
Adverb 1. (polite, formal) well, acceptably Interjection 1. pleased to meet you 2. best regards 3. thanks in advance 4. thanks for your continued support |
Etymology Regular -ku adverbial form of -i adjective 宜しい (yoroshii, “good”, polite, formal). Use as an interjection arose as a contraction of the longer phrase 宜しくお願いします (yoroshiku onegai shimasu, “please think well of me”). これからもよろしく。 Until we meet again (literally, “Be favorable in the future as well”)” |
~です Synonyms どす (dosu) (traditional for Kyoto) だす (dasu) (traditional for Osaka) (Tokyo) です [déꜜsù] (Atamadaka – [1]) IPA(key): [de̞sɨ̥] |
Verb 1. polite form of だ (da), used after uninflecting parts of speech: to be 2. (included even when a copula is not necessary) indicates politeness |
Etymology The copula です (desu) is thought to be a contracted version of であります (de arimasu), from で (de) + あります (arimasu); however, there are other possibilities, namely でございます (de gozaimasu), from で (de) + ございます (gozaimasu); でする (de suru), from で (de) + する (suru); でおわす (de owasu), from で (de) + おわす (owasu); and でそうろう (de sōrō), from で (de) + そうろう (sōrō). これは私(わたし)のパソコンです。 This is my PC. 昨日(きのう)はいい天気(てんき)でした。 It was good weather yesterday. このパスポートはあなたのですか。 Is this passport yours? とても美(うつく)しいです。 It is very beautiful. とてもおいしかったです。 It was very delicious. 私(わたし)も行(い)きたいです。 I want to go too. Usage notes The perfective form is でした (deshita), volitional でしょう (deshō), conjunctive でして (deshite). Other forms are not used. Plain form of verb + です (desu) / でした (deshita) is nonstandard. The standard form is verb ren’yōkei + ます (-masu) / ました (-mashita). However, both plain form of verb + でしょう (deshō) and verb ren’yōkei + ましょう (-mashō) are valid in Standard Japanese – the former mainly expresses conjecture and the latter mainly expresses volition. For the past tense of an -i adjective, the adjective + でした (deshita) is nonstandard and generally considered a common grammatical mistake made by non-native speakers. The standard form is instead to use the past form of the -i adjective + です (desu). For the forms ないです (nai desu) and なかったです (nakatta desu), there are synonyms ありません (arimasen) and ありませんでした (arimasen deshita). This word is phonologically an enclitic, similar to particles. It is classified as 助動詞 (jodōshi, “auxiliary verb”) in traditional Japanese grammar.” |
お辞(じ)儀(ぎ) (non-honorific) 辞(じ)儀(ぎ) AF: お辭儀 (kyūjitai) 御辞儀 (Tokyo) おじぎ [òjígí] (Heiban – [0]) IPA(key): [o̞ʑiɡʲi] |
1. (honorific) bow, gesture made by bending at the waist | Etymology From 御お (o-, honorific prefix) + 辞じ儀ぎ (jigi, “bow”). |
| お名(な)前(まえ) AF: 御名前 IPA(key): [o̞na̠ma̠e̞] |
1. (honorific) (your/his, etc.) name | お名(な)前(まえ)は？ What’s your name? |
| お名(な)前(まえ)は何(なん)ですか? | お名前は何ですか? What’s your name?” |
|
お元(げん)気(き)ですか。 AF: お元氣ですか (kyūjitai) (Tokyo) おげんきですか [ò géꜜǹkì dèsù kà] (Nakadaka – [2]) IPA(key): [o̞ ɡẽ̞ŋʲkʲi de̞sɨ̥ ka̠] |
1. how are you? | Etymology Literally, “are you [honorific prefix] energetic/healthy?”. お元(げん)気(き)ですか。 How are you?” |
元(げん)気(き) (Tokyo) げんき [géꜜǹkì] (Atamadaka – [1])[1][2] IPA(key): [ɡẽ̞ŋʲkʲi] |
Adjective 1. healthy; well 2. energetic; lively; in a good mood Noun 1. the fundamental force that permeates through all matter and life 2. health; healthfulness 3. (personal) energy; vigor; strength 4. good spirits; vitality; cheer; liveliness; enthusiasm Proper noun 1. male given name (Genki) |
元(げん)気(き)になる。 to get well (recover from sickness) お元(げん)気(き)で！ good luck (to you)!/Take care of yourself./Stay healthy. 元(げん)気(き)？ Are you well? / How are you? 部(ぶ)長(ちょう)は今日(きょう)も元(げん)気(き)だね。 Our club president looks pretty peppy today again. 妹(いもうと)を元(げん)気(き)にさせる。 to cheer up one’s little sister 元(げん)気(き)を出(だ)す。 to cheer up; to recover one’s strength 元(げん)気(き)よく答(こた)える。 to answer enthusiastically 元(げん)気(き)いっぱいでかわいい。 cute and full of energy Human Japanese: Something to keep in mind about the phrase, however, isthat, because you are literally asking whether a person is healthy, Japanesepeople don’t ask it as often as people from other countries do. English speakers often use it severaltimes a day with the same person, as a sort of general greeting, not evenreally expecting a response, but that doesn’t sound right in Japanese. Ask itlike that and you’ll probably get a puzzled expression and response like, “Ofcourse I’m still healthy, you just saw me two hours ago…” Japanese people typically use the expression to ask someonewhom they haven’t seen for a while. In this way, it’s rather like the “How are you?” spoken among friends meetingup after an interval of some time.” |
はい (Tokyo) はい [háꜜì] (Atamadaka – [1])[3] IPA(key): [ha̠i] |
Interjection 1. [from 1774] yes; okay; understood, got it; here, present; right, so (agreement); uh-huh (acknowledgement that one is listening) 2. [from 1774] no (in response to negative questions); agree 3. [date uncertain] sorry? (What did you say?) 4. [from 1603] general shout or call, compare English hey: go, start; stop, time’s up (expressing a timing) 5. [from early 1800s] (sentence-final) used to express mild uncertainty |
Etymology 1 Ultimate derivation currently unknown, with various resources listing no etymology.[1][2][3][4] Theories include: Perhaps related to interjection は (ha, “yes”), which first appears in the early 1600s.[5] Alternatively, may derive from Cantonese 係 / 系 (hai6), or perhaps from Sino-Japanese 拝 (hai), but this theory is not academically accepted. (Can this(+) etymology be sourced?) First cited as a general shout in the early 1600s (compare English hey),[1] with the affirmative yes sense first cited to 1774.[1] はい、承(しょう)知(ち)しました。 Yes, understood. 「もしもし、木(き)村(むら)さんですか？」「はい、木(き)村(むら)です。」 “Hello, is this Mr./Ms. Kimura?” “Yes, Kimura speaking.” はい、何(なん)でしょうか。 Yes? What is it? はい。はい。はい。なるほど、なるほど。 Uh-huh. Uh-huh. Yes. Mmm, I see. 今日(きょう)は雨(あめ)だから、ピクニックには行(い)けませんね？はい、行(い)けません。 It’s raining today so we can’t go on a picnic? No, we can’t go. はい？何(なん)ですって？ I’m sorry? Could you repeat that? 1(いち)、2(に)、3(さん)、はい！ 1, 2, 3, go! はい、そこまで。 OK, let’s stop here. はいおわりー。 Hey, we’re done. そうだと思(おも)います、はい。 I believe so, yes. Usage notes Used in a variety of contexts, including: “present” – when calling attendance “go ahead” – when a car or truck is backing up; often said deeply with extended ‘a’ sound as in はあ〜い (hāāi) “yes, I understand what you are saying (but don’t necessarily agree)” |
いいえ (Tokyo) いいえ [ìíéꜜ] (Odaka – [3])[2][3] IPA(key): [iːe̞] |
1. no 2. yes (in response to negative questions), disagree 3. Response to words of gratitude |
「東(とう)京(きょう)出(しゅっ)身(しん)ですか。」「いいえ、大(おお)阪(さか)出(しゅっ)身(しん)です。」 “Are you from Tokyo?” “No, I am from Osaka.” 今日(きょう)は雨(あめ)だから、ピクニックには行(い)けませんね？いいえ、雨(あま)ガッパを着(き)れば行(い)けます。 It’s raining today so we can’t go on a picnic? Yes, we can go, if we wear raincoats. 「ありがとうございます。」「いいえ、どういたしまして。」 “Thank you.” “My pleasure.” 「あ、どうも。」「いえいえ、こちらこそ。」 “Oh, thanks.” “Not at all, I should thank you.”” |
日本 (Tokyo) にほん [nìhóꜜǹ] (Nakadaka – [2])[8][9] IPA(key): [ɲ̟ihõ̞ɴ] |
1. Japan (ellipsis of 日本国 (Nihon-koku): a country and archipelago of East Asia) 2. a surname |
Nifon ニホン (日本) 日本. Nifon. Land of the rising sun.” |
アメリカ AF: 亜米利加 (obsolete) 亜墨利加 (obsolete) (Tokyo) アメリカ [àméríká] (Heiban – [0])[6][7] IPA(key): [a̠me̞ɾʲika̠] |
1. (chiefly in compounds, due to possible ambiguity) America (one of the continents of North America or South America) 2. America, United States of America (a country in North America) |
南(みなみ)アメリカ、北(きた)アメリカ、中(ちゅう)央(おう)アメリカ South America, North America, Central America アメリカ州(しゅう) America; the Americas その度(たび)にアメリカが出(で)てって爆(ばく)弾(だん)落(お)とせってのか？ You think America should butt in and go drop some bombs every time? 当(あ)たり前(まえ)さ‼それが〝世(せ)界(かい)の警(けい)察(さつ)〟たるアメリカの役(やく)目(め)だろ‼ Well, duh!! America is the “world police” after all!!” |
カナダ AF: 加奈陀 (obsolete) (Tokyo) カナダ [káꜜnàdà] (Atamadaka – [1]) IPA(key): [ka̠na̠da̠] |
1. Canada (a country in North America) | - |
| -人 (じん) (Tokyo) じん [jíꜜǹ] (Atamadaka – [1])[4][3] IPA(key): [d͡ʑĩɴ] Go-on: にん (nin, Jōyō) Kan-on: じん (jin, Jōyō) Kun: ひと (hito, 人, Jōyō)、り (ri, 人) Nanori: きよ (kiyo)、さね (sane)、じ (ji)、たみ (tami)、と (to)、ね (ne)、ひこ (hiko)、ひとし (hitoshi)、ふと (futo)、ふみ (fumi)、むと (muto)、め (me) |
1. person from that group 2. person who does the activity of the suffixed word |
日本(にほん)人(じん)、イギリス人(じん)、スペイン人(じん)、ドイツ人(じん)、米国(べいこく)人(じん)、スコットランド人(じん) a Japanese person, an Englishman, a Spaniard, a German, an American, a Scot |