Part I: Greeting People
In Japan, there is a lot of protocol and lots of ways to do several things, including greeting people. It's important to know when to do what, so here is a rough guide to basic greetings in Japan:
おはよう！／おはようございます！ (Ohayou! / Ohayou gozaimasu!) — Good morning. This greeting is typically used until about 11 a.m. Please note that おはよう should be used with people you're close to/familiar with (like friends and family), while おはようございます should be used with people who you need to show respect (like bosses or teachers).
こん’にちは。(Kon'nichiwa) — Good day.
こんばんは。(Konbanwa) — Good evening.
さようなら。(Sayounara) — Goodbye. Often misspelled as "sayonara". (There's a U in there, folks!) This is a somewhat formal way to say goodbye to someone, though it can be used on all levels. For people you're close to (like friends), you can say じゃ、また。 (Ja, mata.) or じゃ、またね？ (Ja, mata ne?), both of which being the equivalent of "Later."
おやすみなさい。(Oyasuminasai.) — Good night. This is typically used in the home when someone's headed off to bed for the evening.
ありがとう。／ありがとうございます。(Arigatou./Arigatou gozaimasu.) — Thank you. (Arguably the one Japanese word/phrase that most people know or have heard of.) Obviously, you use this to express thanks (though on the most basic level). Just like おはよう, the former is used for people you know; the latter is used for people you should show respect.
どういたしました。(Dou itashimashita.) — You're welcome.
すみません。(Sumimasen.) — Excuse me. This can be used a lot of ways. It can be used to get someone's attention that you don't know, to excuse yourself for something you've done wrong or to show someone appreciation for something they're done for you. A very handy word.
はい。(Hai.) — Yes. It can also be used to say that you've heard someone addressing a question or something suchlike to you. Also used during roll call to say "Present!".
いいえ。(Iie.) — No. Besides the obvious, it can also be used in the context of saying "No problem." to someone that you've done something for.
いってきます。(Ittekimasu.) — "I will go and come back." This phrase is used when you're leaving out of your house for the day, either to go to school, work or to run an errand. It's just a way of saying "I'm heading out."
いってらっしゃい。(Itterasshai.) — "Please go and come back." The traditional response to いってきます. It's basically a way of saying "Have a good day and be careful."
ただいま。(Tadaima.) — "I'm home/back." Folks say this when they've come home for the day from doing whatever.
おかえりなさい。(Okaerinasai.) — "Welcome back." The traditional response to ただいま.
いただきます。／ごちそうさま。(Itadakimasu./Gochisousama.) — "Thank you for the meal." before and after eating, respectively. It's a traditional thing.
Obviously, there are regional differences with how some things are said, but that's about the legit of it. Next up, introducing yourself to the masses!
