Japanese Lessons #3: Greetings 「あいさつ」

Now let's learn basic Japanese greetings! Greetings are very important so be sure to know the basics *:.｡☆..｡.(´∀｀人)

おはよう
Ohayou
Good Morning
*Casual way of saying good morning. It is used between family members and friends.

おはようございます
Ohayou Gozaimasu
Good Morning (polite)
*Polite way of saying good morning. It is used between people with higher status and less intimate acquaintances.

こんにちは
Konnichiwa
Good Afternoon/Good Day

こんばんは
Konbanwa
Good Evening

おやすみなさい
Oyasumi Nasai
Good Night
*One can use oyasumi too. It's shorter. （*｀▽´*）ｳﾋｮﾋｮ

さようなら
Sayonara
Goodbye
*This is normally used when you aren't expecting to see the person for a long time.

じゃあね/またね
Jaa ne/Mata ne
Goodbye
*These are some of the casual ways of saying goodbye which is normally used between closed friends and relatives.

ありがとう
Arigatou
Thank You

ありがとうございます
Arigatou Gozaimasu
Thank You (polite)

どうもありがとうございます
Doumo Arigatou Gozaimasu
Thank You (very polite/formal)

いいえ
Iie
You're welcome/Not at all/No

どういたしまして
Dou Itashimashite
You're welcome (polite)

いってきます
Ittekimasu
I'll go and come back
*This is used when a family member leaves the house.

いってらっしゃい
Itterasshai
Please go and come back
*This is the normal response to "ittekimasu"

ただいま
Tadaima
I'm back/I'm home
*This is used when a person comes home

おかえりなさい
Okaeri Nasai
Welcome back/Welcome home
*This is the normal response to "tadaima"

いただきます
Itadakimasu
*This is said before eating. Also, when someone gives you a food or drink (even if you're not going to eat/drink it yet), one normally say "itadakimasu" to show appreciation.

ごちそうさま
Gochisousama
*This is said after eating. This is also another way of showing appreciation to the person who prepared the meal. One can also say "gochisou sama deshita".