Free cheat sheet · Greetings
Japanese greetings chart (free PDF and image)
The Japanese greetings you'll use every day are おはようございます (good morning), こんにちは (hello), こんばんは (good evening), ありがとうございます (thank you) and すみません (excuse me, sorry). This chart groups 28 greetings and set phrases by situation: every day, thanks and apologies, at home and meals, and at work and in shops, each with its reading, romaji and when to say it. The JFT-Basic tests set phrases like these in the expression questions of the Conversation and Expression section.
Free PDF cheat sheet
Japanese greetings chart with romaji
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Updated Oct 31, 2026
The sheet
Japanese greetings
The same content as the PDF. Use the switches to hide parts and test yourself; tap a hidden cell to reveal it.
28 everyday greetings and set phrases: reading · romaji, and when to say them.
Every day
- おはようございますohayō gozaimasuGood morning (polite; also used at work)
- こんにちはkonnichiwaHello; good afternoon
- こんばんはkonbanwaGood evening
- おやすみなさいoyasuminasaiGood night (before bed)
- さようならsayōnaraGoodbye (when you won't meet again soon)
- じゃあ、またjā, mataSee you (casual)
- はじめましてhajimemashiteNice to meet you (first meeting only)
- よろしくお願いしますよろしくおねがいします · yoroshiku onegai shimasuI look forward to working with you; please treat me well
Thanks and apologies
- ありがとうございますarigatō gozaimasuThank you (polite)
- どういたしましてdō itashimashiteYou're welcome
- すみませんsumimasenExcuse me; sorry; thanks for your trouble
- ごめんなさいgomennasaiI'm sorry (to friends and family)
- 大丈夫ですだいじょうぶです · daijōbu desuIt's OK; I'm fine
- お大事におだいじに · odaiji niGet well soon (to someone who is ill)
At home and meals
- いただきますitadakimasuSaid just before eating
- ごちそうさまでしたgochisōsama deshitaSaid after eating: thank you for the meal
- いってきますittekimasuI'm off (leaving home, coming back later)
- いってらっしゃいitterasshaiSee you later (to someone leaving)
- ただいまtadaimaI'm home
- おかえりなさいokaerinasaiWelcome home
- おじゃましますojama shimasuExcuse me for coming in (entering someone's home)
At work and in shops
- お疲れさまですおつかれさまです · otsukaresama desuThanks for your work (to coworkers, all day)
- お先に失礼しますおさきにしつれいします · osaki ni shitsurei shimasuExcuse me for leaving before you
- 失礼しますしつれいします · shitsurei shimasuExcuse me (entering or leaving an office or room)
- お願いしますおねがいします · onegai shimasuPlease (when asking for something)
- いらっしゃいませirasshaimaseWelcome (shop staff to customers)
- 少々お待ちくださいしょうしょうおまちください · shōshō omachi kudasaiPlease wait a moment (staff to customers)
- もしもしmoshi moshiHello (on the phone)
Tips
- At work, お疲れさまです is said all day: as hello, thank you and goodbye.
- Use はじめまして only the first time you meet someone.
- すみません is the safest word in Japan: it gets attention, apologises and thanks.
How to use it
How to use the greetings chart for the JFT-Basic
Learn the situation, not just the word
Expression questions describe a scene (leaving work first, entering a home) and ask what you say. Learn each phrase with its situation.
Say them out loud
Greetings are said, not read. Read each line aloud twice, then hide the English with the switch above the sheet.
Use them at work
お疲れさまです and お先に失礼します are daily at any Japanese workplace. More in the SSW workplace phrases.
Check with the quiz
The polite-expression questions in the grammar quiz test the same set phrases.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
- Japanese workplace phrases by jobFirst-day phrases for care, food service, construction and more.
- Japanese self-introduction generatorA polite jikoshoukai for your SSW interview, with audio.
- Japanese numbers and counters chartNumbers, prices and counters with the sound changes marked. Free PDF.
- Free JFT-Basic PDFs and cheat sheetsPrintable kana charts, kanji and vocabulary lists, grammar sheets and a reviewer.
Step 1 · 15 minutes
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