N5 · Phrase guide
Konnichiwa — Not Your Default Hello
こんにちは
こんにちは
Hello / good afternoon
Nuance
Textbook default, but real life favors situational phrases (おはよう, はじめまして, お久しぶり). こんにちは fits afternoon greetings to acquaintances.
Cultural note
Kids and service staff use it more. Among coworkers you see daily, a nod or お疲れ様 is more typical than こんにちは.
Examples
こんにちは。
Hello.
Afternoon, meeting a neighbor
先生、こんにちは。
Hello, teacher.
Student greeting
Common mistakes
- Saying こんにちは to coworkers every afternoon
- Using it on the phone (もしもし is standard)
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