PrettyFluent
This is just a lesson preview. Get the interactive lesson free on PrettyFluent
🌅

How to Say ‘Good morning.’ in Japanese

おはようございます。

ohayou gozai masu

[ohah-yoh goh-zah-ee mahss]

💬 Usage Tip: [おはようございます] is the standard polite morning greeting. Very useful for starting a kitchen shift professionally.

🇯🇵 In Japan: Even if everyone is busy, saying [おはようございます] clearly is part of good workplace manners in Japan.

Phrase Breakdown

おはよう

ohayou

[ohah-yoh]

good morning

The casual greeting part of the full polite morning expression.

Example

先輩におはようございますと言う前に、おはようの部分を覚えます。

Before saying ohayou gozaimasu to a senior coworker, learn the ohayou part.

ございます

gozai masu

polite auxiliary used in greetings

Adds politeness and makes the greeting formal and respectful.

Example

おはようございます。

Good morning.

Words in this phrase

ござい

gozai

[goh-zah-ee]

to be; to exist (polite part)

This part makes the greeting more formal and polite.

Example

おはようございますの中でございは丁寧さを出します。

In ohayou gozaimasu, gozai adds politeness.

ます

masu

[mahss]

polite verb ending

A polite ending that completes the formal greeting.

Example

おはようございますのますで丁寧な言い方になります。

The masu in ohayou gozaimasu makes it a polite expression.

Get the Full Learning Experience

This lesson is just a preview. Download PrettyFluent to practice pronunciation, roleplay conversations, and master vocabulary with spaced repetition.

Pronunciation Feedback

AI-powered speech recognition to perfect your accent

Spaced Repetition

Retain vocabulary long-term with smart practice

Immersive Roleplaying

Practice real conversations with AI partners

Custom Scenarios

Request lessons tailored to your specific needs

Download PrettyFluent on the App StoreGet Full Lesson

What Learners Are Saying

Teaching in Osaka and I wanted to connect with my students beyond the classroom. The everyday conversation scenarios made my Japanese feel natural, not textbook-y.

Mia S., 25, English Teacher

Moved to Tokyo and the polite vs. casual speech levels were killing me. This app breaks it all down with real scenarios. My coworkers noticed the difference in weeks.

Kevin Z., 31, Game Developer

I tried five different apps before this one. The roleplay conversations are what finally made things click. I actually remember what I learn now.

Sofia R., 31, Marketing Manager