How to Say Nice to Meet You in Japanese

Last Updated: December 4, 2022 References

Greetings in Japan are formal interactions governed by rituals. Foreigners are expected to follow these customs out of respect for their Japanese hosts. Greetings shared among friends differ from those exchanged between strangers. There are also greetings reserved for highly respected members of society. Mastering these greetings will signify that you respect Japanese traditions.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Respecting Japanese Greeting Etiquette

1
Wait until you are introduced. In Japan, it is rude to introduce yourself. When possible, wait to be introduced in formal and informal settings. This demonstrates that you understand your status in relation to the statuses of those around you.^{[1]
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2
Bow. When Japanese men and women greet each other, they bow out of respect. Non-Japanese men and women are expected to partake in this custom as well. To correctly perform a bow, you must assume the correct posture. Place your heels together and lay your palms flat on your thighs. There are four types of bows:
- The eshaku, or greeting bow, is a 15° bow. This bow is used during an informal meeting. While this bow is not held long—less than 2 seconds—it is important that you do not appear rushed.^{[2]
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- The futsuu rei, or respect bow, is a 30° to 45° bow. This bow lasts for two deep breaths.^{[3]
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- The saikei rei, or highest respect bow, is a 45° to 70° bow.^{[4]
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  Research source} This bow is appropriate at any occasion. It is commonly held for 2 seconds.
- On very formal occasions, bows are deeper and held longer.^{[5]
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3
Refrain from extending your hand. In Western nations, the handshake is an accepted and expected component of formal and informal greetings. The handshake, however, is not a common part of the Japanese tradition. Upon meeting, do not extend your hand.^{[6]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Greeting an Equal, an Acquaintance, or Someone New

1
Greet a friend. When you run into a friend, you may say hisashiburi. This phrase means “nice to see you again. It can also mean “long time no see.”^{[7]
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Research source} It is pronounced ‘’hee-sah-shee-boo-ree’’.^{[8]
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2
Greet an acquaintance you met once before. When you greet an acquaintance, you may say mata o ai shimashitane. Translated, this means “I see you again.” It also means, “we meet again.” It is pronounced ma-ta oh aye she-MOSH-teh ne.
3
Greet a stranger. When you are introduced to someone new for the first time, you may say hajimemashite. This means “nice to meet you.” It is pronounced hah-jee-meh-MOSH-teh.^{[9]
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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Greeting a Respected Member of Society

1
Greet a person of high stature. There are special greetings reserved for members of high society.
- When meeting a man or woman of high stature for the first time, you may say oai dekite kouei desu. This means “delighted to meet you.”^{[10]
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  Research source} It is pronounced oh-aye dic-tish-te ko-ee dis.
- When meeting a man or woman of high stature for the second time, you may say mata oai dekite kouei desu. This phrase means “it is a great honor to meet you again.” It is pronounced ma-ta oh-aye dic-tish-te ko-ee dis.
2
Greet a respected member of society. When you meet a well respected member of society, such as the owner of a business, it is appropriate to use a slightly less formal greeting.
- When meeting this person for the first time, you may say oai dekite kouei desu. This means “delighted to meet you” and is pronounced oh-aye dic-tish-te ko-ee dis.^{[11]
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- Upon meeting them for the second time, you may say mata oai dekite ureshii desu. This phrase means “pleased to meet you again.”^{[12]
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  Research source} It is pronounced ma-ta oh-aye dic-tish-te UR-e-she dis.
3
Insert an “O” in front of informal greetings. In Japan, there are greetings reserved for meeting a person of a higher status. To turn informal greetings into formal greetings, insert “O” before the informal phrase.
- For example, ‘’hisashiburi desu’’ becomes ‘’o hisashiburi desu’’. It is pronounced ‘’oh hee-sah-shee-boo-ree deh-soo neh’’.^{[13]
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Community Q&A

Question

How do I say "please" in Japanese?

Jadexhe

Community Answer

Informal: ください　kudasai Informal: どぞ　dozo Formal: おねがします　onegaishimasu
Question

How do I say "I'm okay" in Japanese?

Community Answer

If you're responding to "How are you?" you would reply with 元気です ("genki desu"). If someone is asking if you're okay (like after you've gotten hurt), you would reply with だいじょうぶ ("daijoubu").
Question

How do I say, "Is it night or evening" in Japanese?

Community Answer

"Yoru, matawa ban desu ka?" It is pronounced ("yo-roo mah-tah-wah bahn des-kah").