japanese · Foundations · Lesson 1
First Encounters - Basic Greetings
Learn common greetings for different times of day and how to introduce yourself politely.
You've just arrived in Japan and are meeting your host family for the first time at their home in the evening. You exchange polite greetings and introduce yourselves.
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Watch the video above to learn this lesson's vocabulary through music. Then add the song to your playlist — every replay is a free review session. Scroll down for pronunciation practice, grammar breakdowns, and a printable worksheet.
Vocabulary
good morning (casual)
Expression
A set phrase or greeting you use as a whole — like おはようございます (good morning) or すみません (excuse me).
good morning (polite)
Expression
A set phrase or greeting you use as a whole — like おはようございます (good morning) or すみません (excuse me).
hello / good afternoon
Expression
A set phrase or greeting you use as a whole — like おはようございます (good morning) or すみません (excuse me).
good evening
Expression
A set phrase or greeting you use as a whole — like おはようございます (good morning) or すみません (excuse me).
goodbye
Expression
A set phrase or greeting you use as a whole — like おはようございます (good morning) or すみません (excuse me).
see you (casual)
Expression
A set phrase or greeting you use as a whole — like おはようございます (good morning) or すみません (excuse me).
nice to meet you
Expression
A set phrase or greeting you use as a whole — like おはようございます (good morning) or すみません (excuse me).
pleased to meet you (polite)
Expression
A set phrase or greeting you use as a whole — like おはようございます (good morning) or すみません (excuse me).
Cultural Notes
おはよう vs. おはようございます — Same Words, Different Vibes
You'll notice おはよう and おはようございます both mean "good morning," but they're not interchangeable. Use the longer version (おはようございます) with your boss, a teacher, someone older than you, or anyone you've just met. Save the short おはよう for close friends and family. In the song, Speaker A uses the polite version while Speaker B replies with the casual one — a hint that B feels comfortable and friendly.
よろしくお願いします Has No Real English Translation
This phrase gets translated as "pleased to meet you," but it means something much bigger. It's closer to "please look after me" or "let's have a good relationship." Japanese people say it when meeting someone new, starting a job, asking for a favor, or even kicking off a group project. You'll hear it constantly in Japan — it's one of those phrases that smooths over almost any social situation where you want to show goodwill.
さようなら Sounds More Final Than You'd Think
In movies and textbooks, さようなら gets taught as "goodbye," but most Japanese people only use it when they won't see someone for a long time — or at all. For everyday goodbyes (leaving work, saying bye to a friend), じゃあね or じゃまた is much more natural. Think of さようなら like "farewell" in English: technically correct, but a bit dramatic for grabbing coffee with a friend.