Lesson 1: おはようございます – Good Morning! (Japanese Greetings)

Basic greetings and everyday expressions for introductions and polite interactions.

This lesson focuses on essential Japanese greetings, polite expressions, and basic communication phrases for everyday situations including introductions, thanking, apologizing, and farewells.

Key topics:

・Basic greetings (Good morning, afternoon, evening)
・Thanking and responding to thanks
・Apologizing and polite excuses
・Common expressions and interjections
・Saying goodbye and farewell expressions
・Offering and receiving items politely
・Basic conversational responses

Vocabulary

おとしましたよ

otoshimashitayo

落おとしましたよ

You dropped this. (polite)

Example

すみません、おとしましたよ.

Sumimasen, otoshimashita yo.

Excuse me, you dropped this.

あめ

ame

candy

Example

これはあめです.

Kore wa ame desu.

This is candy.

これ

kore

this

Example

これはなんですか？

Kore wa nan desu ka?

What is this?

プレゼント

purezento

present

Example

プレゼントをどうもありがとう.

Purezento o doumo arigatou.

Thank you for the present.

ありがとうございます

arigatou gozaimasu

Thank you.

Example

プレゼント、ありがとうございます.

Purezento, arigatou gozaimasu.

Thank you for the present.

いいえ

iie

No / You're welcome.

Example

ありがとうございます. - いいえ.

Arigatou gozaimasu. - Iie.

Thank you. - You're welcome.

いた

itai

痛つう()い

Ouch!

Example

いた！あしがいたいです.

Itai! Ashi ga itai desu.

Ouch! My foot hurts.

おはよう

ohayou

Morning. (casual)

Example

おはよう、げんき？

Ohayou, genki?

Morning, how are you?

おはようございます

ohayou gozaimasu

Good morning. (polite)

Example

おはようございます.きょうはいてんきですね.

Ohayou gozaimasu. Kyou wa ii tenki desu ne.

Good morning. The weather is nice today, isn't it?

おやすみ

oyasumi

Good night. (casual)

Example

おやすみ、あしたまたね.

Oyasumi, ashita mata ne.

Good night, see you tomorrow.

おやすみなさい

oyasuminasai

Good night. (polite)

Example

おやすみなさい、よくやすんでください.

Oyasumi nasai, yoku yasunde kudasai.

Good night, please rest well.

こんにちは

konnichiwa

Good afternoon.

Example

こんにちは、げんきですか？

Konnichiwa, genki desu ka?

Good afternoon, how are you?

こんばんは

konbanwa

Good evening.

Example

こんばんは、きょうはあつかったですね.

Konbanwa, kyou wa atsukatta desu ne.

Good evening, it was hot today, wasn't it?

じゃあ、また

jaa, mata

See you later.

Example

じゃあ、またあした.

Jaa, mata ashita.

See you tomorrow then.

ごめん

gomen

Sorry. (casual)

Example

ごめん、おくれた.

Gomen, okureta.

Sorry, I'm late.

すみません

sumimasen

Excuse me. / I'm sorry.

Example

すみません、これはだれのかさですか？

Sumimasen, kore wa dare no kasa desu ka?

Excuse me, whose umbrella is this?

どうぞ

douzo

Here you go. / Go ahead.

Example

どうぞ、おすわりください.

Douzo, o suwari kudasai.

Please, have a seat.

どうも

doumo

Thanks. / Hello. (casual, versatile)

Example

どうも、たすかりました.

Doumo, tasukarimashita.

Thanks, you saved me.

どうもありがとう

doumo arigatou

Many thanks.

Example

プレゼントをどうもありがとう

Purezento o doumo arigatou.

Thank you for the present.

Conversation

はじめまして.

Hajimemashite.

Nice to meet you. (first meeting)

Example Usage

はじめまして.たなかです.

Hajimemashite. Tanaka desu.

Nice to meet you. I'm Tanaka.

じゃあ、また.

Jaa, mata.

See you later.

Example Usage

じゃあ、またあしたがっこうで.

Jaa, mata ashita gakkou de.

Well then, see you at school tomorrow.

すみません.

Sumimasen.

Excuse me. / I'm sorry.

Example Usage

すみません、これはあなたのかさですか？

Sumimasen, kore wa anata no kasa desu ka?

Excuse me, is this your umbrella?

どうぞ.

Douzo.

Here you go. / Please.

Example Usage

どうぞ、おめしあがりください.

Douzo, o meshiagari kudasai.

Please, help yourself.

Kanji

Grammar Rules

Rule 1: Stating what something is politely

Structure: N + です

です is used to end sentences in polite speech. It functions similar to 'is/am/are' in English, but it is more like a polite sentence-ending particle.

How to use: Attach です after a noun. The polite question form is N + ですか.The negative forms are N + ではありません, N + じゃありません, or N + じゃないです. In casual speech, the copula is N + だ.

💡 Pro Tip: The particle は in これは is pronounced wa, not ha. です is polite; among close friends, だ is more natural. Do not confuse です with the verbs いる or ある when talking about existence.

Examples

これはプレゼントです.

Kore wa purezento desu.

This is a present.

あのひとはせんせいです.

Ano hito wa sensei desu.

That person is a teacher.

Rule 2: Greeting someone for the first time

Structure: はじめまして.

Used when meeting someone for the first time. Literally it means 'it's the first time (we meet).' It is usually followed by your name and よろしくおねがいします.

How to use: Use はじめまして at the first meeting only. It is commonly followed by [Name] + です and then よろしくおねがいします. There is no question or negative form; it is a set greeting. In casual settings, よろしくおねがいします can shorten to よろしく.

💡 Pro Tip: Do not use はじめまして with someone you have already met; おひさしぶりです is used for reunions. よろしくおねがいします is polite and often used in business, while よろしく is casual. Pronounce はじめまして clearly, not はじまして.

Examples

はじめまして.たなかです.よろしくおねがいします.

Hajimemashite. Tanaka desu. Yoroshiku onegaishimasu.

Nice to meet you. I'm Tanaka. Pleased to meet you.

はじめまして.わたしはマリアです.よろしくおねがいします.

Hajimemashite. Watashi wa Maria desu. Yoroshiku onegaishimasu.

Nice to meet you. I'm Maria. Pleased to meet you.

Rule 3: Thanking someone politely or casually

Structure: ありがとうございます / どうも

ありがとうございます is the polite form of thank you. どうも is a casual 'thanks.' Different levels of politeness are used depending on the situation.

How to use: Use ありがとうございます for polite or formal thanks, and どうも alone for casual thanks. You can combine them as どうもありがとうございます for extra politeness. More casual: ありがとう. There is no question or negative form.

💡 Pro Tip: どうも can mean 'thanks,' 'excuse me,' or 'somehow' depending on context, so using it alone with a superior can sound too casual. ありがとうございます is safe in most polite situations; ありがとう is for friends and family. The とう in ありがとう is a long vowel sound.

Examples

どうもありがとうございます.

Doumo arigatou gozaimasu.

Thank you very much.

ありがとうございます.とてもうれしいです.

Arigatou gozaimasu. Totemo ureshii desu.

Thank you very much. I'm very happy.

Rule 4: Apologizing or getting attention politely

Structure: すみません

すみません is used both for 'excuse me' and 'I'm sorry.' It is a versatile expression for getting attention, apologizing, or showing gratitude in some contexts.

How to use: Use すみません to apologize, to get someone's attention, or to call a staff member. For a past apology, すみませんでした is common. The casual apology is ごめん or ごめんなさい. There is no question or negative form.

💡 Pro Tip: すみません is neutral-polite and very versatile; ごめんなさい is a more direct apology and is often used with friends and family. In some contexts すみません can also express thanks, similar to 'sorry to trouble you.' Be careful not to shorten the ま sound in すみません.

Examples

すみません.おそくなりました.

Sumimasen. Osoku narimashita.

I'm sorry. I'm late.

すみません、みずをください.

Sumimasen, mizu o kudasai.

Excuse me, water please.

Lesson 1: おはようございます – Good Morning! (Japanese Greetings)

Basic greetings and everyday expressions for introductions and polite interactions.

Key topics:

Vocabulary

Conversation

Kanji

Grammar Rules

Rule 1: Stating what something is politely

Rule 2: Greeting someone for the first time

Rule 3: Thanking someone politely or casually

Rule 4: Apologizing or getting attention politely

Exercises

Question 1

Question 2

Question 3

Question 4

Question 5

Question 6

Question 7

Question 8

Question 9

Question 10

Question 11

Question 12

Question 13

Question 14

Question 15

Question 16

Question 17

Question 18

Question 19

Question 20