Overview
This lesson introduces basic Japanese greetings in both casual and formal forms, essential for daily conversation.
Common Greetings
- "Ohayou" means good morning (casual).
- "Ohayou gozaimasu" is the formal way to say good morning.
- "Konnichiwa" means good afternoon or hello.
- "Konbanwa" is used for good evening.
- "Sayounara" means goodbye.
- "Oyasumi nasai" is used to say good night (formal).
- "Arigatou" means thank you (casual).
- "Arigatou gozaimasu" is the formal thank you.
- "Sumimasen" means excuse me or I'm sorry.
Self-Introductions
- "Hajimemashite" means how do you do (when meeting for the first time).
- "Douzo yoroshiku" means nice to meet you.
- Together, "Hajimemashite, douzo yoroshiku" is used for introductions.
Pronunciation and Practice
- Practice repeating each greeting in both casual and formal forms.
- Remember the longest greeting: "Hajimemashite douzo yoroshiku."
Key Terms & Definitions
- Ohayou — good morning (casual)
- Ohayou gozaimasu — good morning (formal)
- Konnichiwa — good afternoon/hello
- Konbanwa — good evening
- Sayounara — goodbye
- Oyasumi nasai — good night (formal)
- Arigatou — thank you (casual)
- Arigatou gozaimasu — thank you (formal)
- Sumimasen — excuse me/I'm sorry
- Hajimemashite — how do you do
- Douzo yoroshiku — nice to meet you
Action Items / Next Steps
- Practice saying each greeting aloud in both casual and formal forms.
- Memorize the key terms and their meanings for self-introduction.