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How to Say ‘Hello.’ in Japanese

こんにちは。

konnichiwa

[kohn-nee-chee-wah]

💬 Usage Tip: [こんにちは] is a daytime greeting (late morning–afternoon). It literally comes from “as for today…,” so it can feel like a friendly opener rather than a blunt “hi.”

🇯🇵 In Japan: In interviews, pair [こんにちは] with a small bow and a calm tone. Often you’ll follow quickly with [よろしくお願いします] to sound properly polite.

Phrase Breakdown

こんにちは

konnichiwa

[kohn-nee-chee-wah]

hello; good afternoon

A standard polite greeting used during the daytime. In interviews, it’s a safe, friendly opener before introducing yourself.

Example

面接官にこんにちはとあいさつします。

I greet the interviewer by saying hello.

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