
How to Say “Good Morning” in Japanese: Casual, Formal, and Real-Life Usage
Jul 8
5 min read
4
17
Whether you're just starting your Japanese journey or aiming to sound more natural in conversations, learning how to say “good morning” properly is a great place to start. Most learners know おはよう (Ohayo), but did you know there are playful, formal, and even regional ways to greet someone in the morning?
In this guide, we’ll walk through different ways to say “good morning” in Japanese, explain when to use each, provide real-life examples, and include native audio so you can hear how they sound in context. You’ll also learn how to practice these greetings naturally with KaiwaBloom’s Online Japanese Conversation Lessons, where you can use what you’ve learned in real conversations with native speakers.
Table of Contents
4 Natural Ways to Say “Good Morning” in Japanese (with Audio)
Let’s explore the most common and natural ways to greet someone in the morning — from polite speech to playful slang.
1. おはよう — Ohayo
Meaning: Morning / Good morning
Register: Casual
Use with: Friends, family, close peers
2. おはようございます — Ohayo gozaimasu
Meaning: Good morning
Register: Polite / Formal
Use with: Teachers, coworkers, strangers, elders
📝 Insight:
“ございます” is a respectful form of ある (to exist). It’s not a separate phrase but a polite add-on that makes おはよう sound much more formal.
3. おっはー — Ohhāa
Meaning: Morning! / Mornin’!
Register: Very casual / Playful
Use with: Close friends, mostly young people
📝 Insight:
This version became popular as a pop-culture catchphrase and still appears in playful interactions. Don’t use it with teachers, colleagues, or strangers — it can sound immature or silly outside a close friend group.
4. おはようさん — Ohayousan
Meaning: Good morning (friendly tone)
Register: Casual / Senior to junior or regional
Use with: Often older people to younger, or in Kansai / casual settings
📝 Insight:
Used in some work settings by senior staff, especially in more relaxed or regional environments
More common in Kansai dialect and among older speakers
Friendly, but not used in formal Tokyo business situations
Is It Still “Morning” at Noon?
In Japan, “おはようございます” can be used even past noon, especially in work environments. For example, in the entertainment or service industries, staff often greet each other with おはようございます when starting their shift — even if it’s late in the day.
This isn’t a mistake — it reflects that someone is starting their day, not what time it is. Think of it more like “start-of-work greeting.”
Common Mistakes to Avoid
When using Japanese greetings, context is everything. Here are common slip-ups to avoid:
❌ Using おはよう with someone you don’t know or a teacher — too casual
❌ Dropping the ございます too soon as a beginner — sounds abrupt
❌ Saying おっはー in a formal setting — too playful
❌ Thinking おはよう can’t be used in the afternoon — it can, in the right context (e.g., shift work)
Use It in Real Conversations
Here’s a natural conversation using both casual and formal greetings:
Mai: おはようございます!昨日(きのう)のプレゼン、すごく良(よ)かったです。 (Good morning! Your presentation yesterday was really good.)
Yuto: あっ、おはようございます。ありがとうございます! (Ah, good morning. Thank you so much!)
Want to try this out for real? Keep reading 👇
Practice with Native Speakers in Real Time
Learning phrases like “おはよう” is just the first step. The next step is using them in conversation — and that’s where most learners get stuck.
That’s why we created KaiwaBloom’s Online Japanese Conversation Lessons. You can:
Practice greetings like おはよう and おはようございます with real native speakers
Try our Free Conversation Sessions to build confidence naturally
Get personalized feedback and speak more fluently, faster
Practice makes natural. Don’t just memorize greetings — use them in real conversations.
👉 Explore our Japanese Conversation Lessons here
Quick Recap Table
Phrase | Register | When to use |
おはよう | Casual | Friends, peers, family |
おはようございます | Polite / Formal | Teachers, colleagues, public settings |
おっはー | Very casual / playful | Close friends |
おはようさん | Casual / Regional | Older people, Kansai, relaxed environments |
☾ Want to learn how to say “Good night” in Japanese too?
Check out our full guide on How to Say Good Night in Japanese — complete with audio, casual and formal versions, and tips on real-life usage.
Final Tip
Add these morning expressions to your custom learning item list in the KaiwaBloom app so you can:
Organize useful phrases you want to remember
Practice them regularly as flashcards
Build your own collection of natural expressions to review anytime
And once you're ready — bring them to life through real conversation in our Online Japanese Conversation Lessons. That’s where everything clicks.
FAQs
Can I just say “morning” in Japanese like we do in English?
Yes! おはよう is like saying “morning” casually in English. It’s short, friendly, and common in casual conversations with friends and family.
Is there a way to say “good morning” more formally than おはようございます?
おはようございます is already very polite and widely used in both business and formal situations. There’s no need to go beyond it — anything more formal would sound unnatural.
Is おはようございます used in writing, or only when speaking?
It’s used in both! You can write おはようございます in emails or LINE messages — it’s polite and appropriate as a morning greeting, especially in professional or semi-formal contexts.
How do kids say good morning in Japan?
Kids often say おはよう in a cheerful or sing-song tone. It’s also common in classrooms or with parents. Some may even say おっはー jokingly, especially when mimicking characters from TV.
What do Japanese people say instead of “good morning” at work if it's not morning anymore?
In workplaces, people often say お疲れさまです (“Thanks for your hard work”) when passing each other, even in the morning or afternoon. It replaces greetings in many office environments.
Can I combine おはよう with other phrases to sound more natural?
Definitely. Try:
おはよう、元気? (Good morning, how are you?)
おはようございます、今日もよろしくお願いします! (Good morning, looking forward to working with you today!)
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