Japanese Conversation · Level 1
86 words
Japanese word
こんにちは
Pronunciation
Romajikonnichiwa
Meaning
- interjectionhello
Example
友だちにこんにちはと声をかけます。tomo da chi ni ko n ni chi wa to koe o ka ke ma su
I say hello to my friend.
More examples
公園で友達にこんにちはと言います。kō en de tomo dachi ni ko n ni chi wa to i i ma su
I say hello to my friend at the park.
オンライン授業が始まると、こんにちはと画面に入力します。o n ra i n ju gyō ga haji ma ru to ko n ni chi wa to ga men ni nyū ryoku shi ma su
When the online class starts, I type hello on the screen.
Core concept
Marks a polite and familiar acknowledgment of another person at a daytime meeting.
Common phrases
こんにちは、皆さんko n ni chi wa mina sa n
Hello, everyone
Similar words
やあyā: A casual greeting used when meeting someone or getting their attention.
どうもdōmo: A brief greeting that can also express a general acknowledgment.
おはようohayō: A greeting used when meeting someone in the morning.
こんばんはkonbanwa: A greeting used when meeting someone in the evening.
Definition in Japanese
昼間に人と会ったときにするあいさつのこと。hiru ma ni hito to a tta to ki ni su ru a i sa tsu no ko to
Word origin
The greeting こんにちは (konnichi wa) is a shortened form of an older greeting beginning with 今日は (kyō wa, "as for today"), whose longer wording asked about the other person's condition.
Usage tips
- English learners often hear こんにちは (konnichiwa) in anime, but it is also a normal daytime greeting in everyday conversation.
Other meanings
- good afternooninterjection