JLPT N5
Morning Greeting (Standard & Business)
Japanese
おはようございます
Ohayou gozaimasu
Lesson & Usage
- [English equivalent: "Good morning."] This is the standard polite way to say "Good morning." Generally used from sunrise until around 11:00 AM. In a business setting, it is commonly used as the very first greeting of the day to your colleagues, even if the workday starts in the afternoon or evening.
Culture & Etiquette
- The phrase originated from the adjective "Hayai" (Early). In the world of traditional Japanese performing arts like Kabuki, disciples would say "O-hayaku gozaimasu" (You have arrived early) to senior actors to show respect for their early arrival and hard work. Over time, it became a general greeting to show respect for anyone starting their day.
