How to say "greetings" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 挨拶あいさつnoun, suru verb, intransitive verbThe everyday word for greetings: what you exchange when meeting, parting, or acknowledging someone — hello-type greetings, salutations, and polite set phrases in daily interaction.
- 賀詞がしnounA less common word for greetings that are at bottom congratulations — congratulatory words or messages. For ordinary hello-and-goodbye greetings it is not the word you want; that is 挨拶.
Use 挨拶 for greetings in the ordinary sense — hellos, salutations, polite exchanges; 賀詞 is a less common word used for greetings that are essentially congratulations, so it suits congratulatory messages rather than everyday greetings.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
This browser can't play pronunciations (needs Safari 18.4 or later, or Chrome / Edge / Firefox).
