How to Say Good Morning in Japanese like a Native Speaker

2025/06/30

Picture this. You’re walking into a Japanese office for the first time, or meeting your homestay family at breakfast, and you freeze—what’s the right way to say good morning without accidentally offending anyone? You’re not alone. This simple greeting carries cultural weight that can make or break first impressions in Japan.

The good news? Learning how to say good morning in Japanese correctly is easier than you think, and this guide eliminates the guesswork. Whether you’re planning a trip to Japan, starting a new job with Japanese colleagues, or simply want to greet your favorite anime characters properly, you’ll discover exactly which greeting to use when, with whom, and how to nail the pronunciation every time.

Universal Good Morning Greetings That Work with Anyone

Why “Ohayō Gozaimasu” is Your Safest Choice

The most common and widely accepted way to say good morning in Japanese is “おはようございます” (ohayō gozaimasu). This phrase is polite and formal enough to be used in almost all situations. Whether you’re addressing your boss, a colleague, or a stranger, this greeting demonstrates appropriate respect while remaining natural.

Unlike other cultures with more casual ways of greeting, Japanese culture requires that greetings show respect, especially to elderly people, bosses, and in formal settings. “Ohayō gozaimasu” accomplishes this perfectly without being overly formal.

Pronunciation Guide and Common Mistakes

Correct Pronunciation: oh-HIGH-oh goh-ZAH-ee-mahs

Key Point

• The “ō” represents a long vowel sound – hold the final “o” sound longer
• The ‘u’ in ‘gozaimasu’ is typically silent in conversation
• Emphasize the “y” sound in “ohayō”

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Writing “ohaiyo” instead of “ohayō” – the correct spelling includes the long vowel mark
• Rushing through “gozaimasu” – each syllable should be clear
• Confusing with “konnichiwa” which is used later in the day

Proper Body Language and Bowing Etiquette

When saying “ohayō gozaimasu,” it should be accompanied with a bow to show proper respect. The depth of your bow indicates the level of respect:

Relationship	Bow Depth	When to Use
Friends/Family	Light nod	Casual settings
Colleagues	15-30 degrees	Workplace
Superiors/Elders	30-45 degrees	Formal situations
First meetings	30 degrees	New introductions

Don’t bow deeper than 30 degrees unless showing higher respect or gratitude. Maintain brief eye contact before bowing, then look down during the bow.

When in Doubt, Use the Formal Version

If you are a foreigner, most Japanese people will take friendly greetings positively, even if the formality level isn’t perfect. It’s always better to err on the side of being too polite rather than too casual when you’re unsure about the relationship dynamics.

Casual Good Morning Greetings for Close Relationships

“Ohayō” – The Basic Informal Version

For less formal situations, such as greeting friends or family, you can drop the “gozaimasu” and simply say “ohayō” (おはよう). This is equivalent to saying “morning!” in English.

When to Use “Ohayō”

• Close friends and family members
• Peers in casual settings
• Roommates or housemates
• People significantly younger than you

Fun and Cute Variations for Close Friends

“Hayo” (はよ): This cute way to say good morning is an even more shortened form of ohayō, typically used among close friends and family members in a playful or teasing way.

“Ossu” (おっす): “Ossu” is the short and slang form of ohayō gozaimasu meaning “good morning.” It’s far too casual for semi-formal settings but can be used with friends and siblings anytime during the day. Popular among teens and in sports contexts.

“Yoohoo” Style Greetings: Similar to the English “yoohoo,” this notably feminine greeting is common among young people, children, and women, often accompanied by cute hand gestures.

Regional Dialect Variations

Japan has numerous regional variations of morning greetings:

“Ohayo-san” (おはよーさん) is used in Mie, Shiga, Kyoto, Osaka, Hyogo, Nara, Shimane, and Oita prefectures. These regional variations add local flavor but aren’t necessary for beginners to master.

Formal Good Morning Greetings for Business and Formal Settings

“Ohayō Gozaimasu” in Professional Contexts

The unique thing about “ohayō gozaimasu” is that it can be used at any hour of the day in work environments. You’ll use it when clocking into your shift, even for late-night shifts, because it greets someone for the first time that day.

Professional Usage Rules

• Always use the full “ohayō gozaimasu” – never shorten to “ohayō”
• Accompany with appropriate bow (15-30 degrees)
• Use when arriving at work, regardless of actual time
• Appropriate for customers, supervisors, and colleagues

Additional Polite Phrases to Combine

Enhanced Professional Greetings

• “Ohayō gozaimasu, osewa ni natte orimasu” (Thank you for your continued support)
• “Kesa wa ikaga desu ka?” (How are you this morning?)

These combinations demonstrate higher-level politeness and cultural awareness in business settings.

Meeting New People and First Impressions

When meeting someone for the first time, “hajimemashite” (nice to meet you) might be more appropriate than just “ohayō gozaimasu,” depending on the context. However, if it’s a morning encounter, you can combine both: “Ohayō gozaimasu. Hajimemashite.”

Workplace Etiquette and Hierarchy

Understanding Japanese workplace hierarchy is crucial:

Greeting Order: Always greet superiors first, then peers, then subordinates Response Timing: Allow seniors to respond before greeting others Group Settings: Address the highest-ranking person first with proper formality

Appropriate Timing for Good Morning Greetings

Standard Time Guidelines

Ohayō and ohayō gozaimasu are most commonly used before 10 in the morning, and definitely before noon. Use “ohayō” from waking to about 12:00, then switch to “konnichiwa”.

Time Breakdown

• 6:00 AM – 10:00 AM: Perfect time for “ohayō gozaimasu”
• 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM: Still acceptable, but start transitioning
• 12:00 PM onward: Switch to “konnichiwa”

Workplace Exceptions and Shift-Based Industries

In some industries with shift-based schedules, it’s customary to say “ohayō gozaimasu” even if you’re arriving in the afternoon or evening. This happens because the greeting represents “first meeting of the day” rather than actual morning time.

Industries with Flexible Timing:

• Hospitals and healthcare
• Restaurants and hospitality
• Entertainment and media
• 24-hour operations

First Meeting of the Day Rules

It’s not rare to hear ohayō gozaimasu in the afternoon if it’s the first time you’re seeing someone that day (such as if your work day starts at 1 PM). This cultural nuance prioritizes relationship dynamics over clock time.

Transitioning to Other Greetings Throughout the Day

As the day progresses, Japanese greetings follow this natural progression:

Morning to Afternoon Transition

• Konnichiwa is typically used from late morning to late afternoon
• You can use konnichiwa throughout the day if it’s not very early morning or very late evening
• From a Japanese perspective, “konbanwa” is usually used after 18:00 at night

Key Takeaway: Japanese people use “ohayō gozaimasu” from early morning to around 10:30 AM, then switch to “konnichiwa” for good afternoon. However, workplace and relationship contexts can override these time-based rules.

Understanding these nuances will help you navigate Japanese morning greetings confidently, showing respect for the culture while building positive relationships with Japanese speakers.

Ready to Master Japanese Beyond Just Greetings?

Now that you’ve mastered “ohayō gozaimasu,” why stop there? Nihongo Online School offers a comprehensive 150-hour Japanese kickstart program designed to take you from basic greetings to real conversations in just 3-6 months.

Our program combines 50 hours of private 1-on-1 online lessons with qualified instructors plus 100 hours of structured homework and study materials. Unlike group classes, every lesson is tailored to your schedule and learning pace through Zoom.

• Conversation-focused curriculum – Practice real-life scenarios you’ll actually use
• 10-step progress tracking – Visualize your Japanese improvement with measurable results
• Dedicated instructor support – One teacher guides you from start to finish
• Official certification – Receive completion certificate for Japanese school applications

Students like Gupta from India and Galane from France have successfully completed our program while maintaining busy work schedules. Start with a free trial lesson and discover how quickly you can progress from “ohayō gozaimasu” to confident daily conversations.

Book a Free Trial Lesson