5 Things you Should Never do in Japanese Greetings Etiquette

In Japan, greetings have become a culture which contains several rules that may surprise foreigners or new Japanese learners.

Almost every newbie must think that we can say “こんにちは (Konnichiwa)” is to greet someone in every setttings—but that’s actually not true! Whether it’s using the wrong greeting at the wrong time or bowing inappropriately, many foreigners unknowingly make mistakes when greeting in Japan.

In this guide, we’ll break down the biggest pitfalls to avoid, helping you steer clear of awkward moments and greet like a native with confidence

Why greetings so important Japanese Culture

In many Western countries, they just say simple words like “Hello” ;“Hi” or even just wave and smile to greet. Unlike that, Japanese take it very seriously when it comes to greetings.

For example, in a Japanese office, employees greet each other every morning with “おはようございます (Ohayou gozaimasu)”, even if they don’t interact much during the day. Similarly、 when leaving, they say “お先に失礼します (Osaki ni shitsurei shimasu)”, acknowledging those who are still working.

If you don’t do these greetings or use them incorrectly, Japanese may think that you seem impolite or distant, even if you don’t mean to be.

First Impressions Made just by saying “hello”

Japanese see the way you greet someone as their perception of you. A proper greeting with the right words, tone, and bow shows respect and good manners. On the other hand, using the wrong greeting or being too casual in a formal situation can create an uncomfortable first impression.

Imagine meeting a Japanese manager for the first time and saying, “やあ (Yaa)!” instead of “初めまして (Hajimemashite)”. Even if your pronunciation is perfect, the informal tone can make you seem unprofessional.

5 Mistakes you should Avoid in Japanese Greetings

1. Using the same Greeting for every Time of Day

“こんにちは (Konnichiwa)” is the first thing that many people learn in the journey to Japanese conversations. However, Japanese greetings are time-sensitive, the way they say “hello” differ in the morning, evening and afternoon.

• Morning (before noon): Say “おはようございます (Ohayou gozaimasu)” for formal situations or “おはよう (Ohayou)” with friends.
• Afternoon (late morning to evening): Use “こんにちは (Konnichiwa)”.
• Evening (after sunset): Say “こんばんは (Konbanwa)” instead.

If you greet someone in the morning with “こんにちは,” it might sound a little unnatural!

2. Being Too Casual in Formal Situations

Many learners forget the difference between casual and formal speech when greeting others.

❌ Saying “おはよう” to your boss instead of “おはようございます” can come off as disrespectful.
❌ Using “やあ” (Yaa) or “よっ” (Yo) when meeting someone for the first time might sound too relaxed.

When you are not sure what to use, you’d better choose the formal one.

3. Offer a Handshake instead of Bowing

Handshakes can be used everywhere in the world but in Japan. Here, the local prefer bowing to show respect to others.

Don’t shake hands when you are in formal situations, or greeting people who are older than you. Instead of that, wait for about 3 seconds to consider, if the other man wants a handshake first, you can respond, but otherwise, a bow is the best choice.

4. Bowing can still be awkward when you don’t know how

Now you know bowing is preferred in Japan, you should make it more natural by changing bowing angles in social situations.

There are three common bowing angles, make sure that you use them properly:

• 15° (Eshaku) – A light bow for casual greetings.
• 30° (Keirei) – A standard bow for business and polite interactions.
• 45° (Saikeirei) – The deepest bow, used for apologies or deep respect.

Don’t bow too deeply in casual settings or not bowing at all in formal situations.
These things may take time to get used to but you can observe how locals bow and match their level of politeness.

5. Forgetting to Greet First Based on Hierarchy

In Japanese business culture, the junior person should greet first. If you’re an employee greeting your manager, you should say hello and bow before they do.

Forgetting this can make you seem unaware of social etiquette.

If you want to know “How to say hi in Japanese” You can read “ 16 phrases to say Hello in Japanese” on website HeyJapan.

Are You Greeting Like a Native? Test Yourself!

Now that you know the most common mistakes, let’s test your knowledge! Try answering these quick self-check questions:

1️⃣ You meet your Japanese boss at 8:30 AM. Which greeting should you use?

A.こんにちは (Konnichiwa)
B. おはよう (Ohayou)
C. おはようございます (Ohayou gozaimasu)
✅ Correct Answer: C. “おはようございます” – Always use the formal morning greeting for superiors!

2️⃣ You are leaving work before your colleagues. What should you say?

A. さようなら (Sayounara)
B. お先に失礼します (Osaki ni shitsurei shimasu)
C. またね (Mata ne)
✅ Correct Answer: B. “お先に失礼します” – A polite way to excuse yourself from work before others.

3️⃣ A friend greets you with “元気？(Genki?)”. How do you respond?

A. はい、元気です (Hai, genki desu)
B. こんにちは (Konnichiwa)
C. いいえ、ダメです (Iie, dame desu)
✅ Correct Answer: A. “はい、元気です” – It’s a casual way to ask “How are you?”, so respond naturally!

Master Japanese Greetings the Right Way

By avoiding these common mistakes, you’ll sound more natural, confident, and respectful when greeting people in Japan.

🚀And if you’re serious about mastering Japanese greetings and conversation skills, start learning with HeyJapan—the perfect app for making Japanese easy and fun! 🎌✨