Good morning in Japanese is おはようございます (ohayō gozaimasu).
The casual version is おはよう (ohayō).
You’ll use them in the morning, and in many workplaces you may also hear おはようございます as the first greeting of the day—even if it’s later.
TL;DR
- Polite: おはようございます (ohayō gozaimasu)
- Casual: おはよう (ohayō)
- In Japanese workplaces, “good morning” can mean “first greeting of the day.”
- Slang versions exist (like おは), but they’re not for formal situations
- The easiest safe reply is to repeat the greeting back
Table of Contents
Open Table of Contents
- Different ways to say “Good Morning” in Japanese
- What is the difference between おはよう and おはようございます?
- When do Japanese people say “Good Morning”?
- Variations: Casual, slang, and short forms
- Pronunciation guide (simple + natural)
- How do you reply to “Good morning” in Japanese?
- Practical dialogue examples
- Related daily greetings in Japanese
- 🕗 Words & Phrases Related to “Morning” in Japanese
- 🌅 Morning Idioms & Proverbs in Japanese
- 🚆 Vocabulary Associated with Japanese Morning Life
- 🪥 Common Japanese Morning Routine (朝の習慣)
- ⏰ Words That Define Morning Time in Japanese
- Common mistakes to avoid
- Learning tips to sound natural
- FAQ
- How do you say good morning in Japanese?
- What is the difference between おはよう and おはようございます?
- Until what time can you say おはようございます?
- Can you say おはようございます in the afternoon?
- Is おは (oha) rude?
- Casual way of saying good morning in Japaneseは？
- Ohayougozaimasu in Japanese とはどういう意味ですか？
- Good Morning と Morning の違いは何ですか？
- The best way to say thank you in Japaneseは？
- Conclusion
Different ways to say “Good Morning” in Japanese
There are two main ways to say good morning in Japanese, plus informal variations you’ll hear in texts and casual speech.
The 2 core forms
| Japanese | Romaji | When to use | Politeness |
|---|---|---|---|
| おはようございます | ohayō gozaimasu | work, school, strangers, first meetings | Polite |
| おはよう | ohayō | friends, family, close coworkers | Casual |
Quick rule: If you’re unsure, use おはようございます. It’s always safe. You can also check more Japanese greetings in Essential Expressions for Beginners.
What is the difference between おはよう and おはようございます?
おはよう is casual; おはようございます is polite.
The extra ございます (gozaimasu) makes the greeting respectful and workplace-appropriate.
Use おはようございます with:
- teachers
- bosses and clients
- strangers
- formal group settings
Use おはよう with:
- friends
- family
- classmates you’re close with
Workplace note: In Japan, coworkers often say おはようございます as their first greeting even if the shift starts in the afternoon.
When do Japanese people say “Good Morning”?
Most people use おはようございます in the morning until around 10–11 a.m., but context matters more than the clock.
Common situations:
- Morning hours — the normal “good morning” window
- First greeting of the day — especially at work, backstage, or during shifts
- Group environments — where greetings set the mood (office, school, clubs)
If it’s clearly afternoon and you’re greeting a stranger on the street, こんにちは (konnichiwa) is more typical.You can also check more ways to say hello in Japanese.
Variations: Casual, slang, and short forms
These are common casual versions of “good morning” in Japanese, mostly used with friends or in messages.
Casual spoken variations
- おはよー (ohayō) — stretched, friendly “morning!”
- おはよ (ohayo) — casual shortcut
- おっはー (ohhā) — playful, energetic vibe
- はよ (hayo) — very casual shortcut (tone-dependent)
Text / chat shortcuts
- おは (oha) — super short; mainly texts + close friends
- おは！ — “morning!” vibe in chat
Very casual “hey”-style (use carefully)
- おっす (ossu) — more like “yo/hey”; can sound “guy-ish”
- よっす (yossu) — casual “yo” greeting
Safety tip: Avoid おは / おっす in professional settings. If you want to sound natural and polite, stick with おはようございます.And also you can read essential Japanese grammar rules.
Pronunciation guide (simple + natural)
おはよう (ohayō)
- Sounds like: o-ha-yo (with a longer “yo”)
おはようございます (ohayō gozaimasu)
- Slow: o-ha-yo go-za-i-ma-su
- Natural: the u in -masu (ます) is often devoiced, so it can sound closer to -mas’
If you say it clearly and warmly, you’ll be understood even with a foreign accent. You can also use our Janpanese interactive pronunciation table to improve your “Hiragana”and “Katakana”.
How do you reply to “Good morning” in Japanese?
The easiest reply is to repeat the greeting back using the same politeness level.
Safe, common replies
- おはようございます。 (polite)
- おはよう。 (casual)
Friendly add-ons (polite to neutral)
- 今日もよろしくお願いします。
“Let’s work well together today.”
- いい朝ですね。
“It’s a nice morning, isn’t it?”
- 良い一日を。
“Have a good day.”
Casual add-ons (friends)
- よく眠れた？
“Did you sleep well?”
- 今日なにする？
“What are you doing today?”
Practical dialogue examples
Morning at work (polite)
A: おはようございます。
B: おはようございます。今日もよろしくお願いします。
Meaning:
A: Good morning.
B: Good morning. Let’s do our best today.
With a friend (casual)
A: おはよう！
B: おはよう。昨日はよく眠れた？
Meaning:
A: Morning!
B: Morning. Did you sleep well last night?
👇 You can practice simulated real-life Japanese conversations in the AvaTalks chat section.
Practice Japanese Daily life and cultural traditions.
Related daily greetings in Japanese
Japanese greetings change by time of day and situation.
| Time / situation | Japanese | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| Morning | おはようございます | ohayō gozaimasu | Good morning |
| Morning (casual) | おはよう | ohayō | Morning |
| Daytime | こんにちは | konnichiwa | Hello / Good afternoon |
| Evening | こんばんは | konbanwa | Good evening |
| Night / sleep | おやすみなさい | oyasuminasai | Good night |
🕗 Words & Phrases Related to “Morning” in Japanese
| English | Kanji | Hiragana | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| morning / AM | 朝 | あさ | Basic word for “morning” |
| dawn | 暁 | あかつき | Literary / poetic usage |
| breakfast | 朝食 | ちょうしょく | Neutral / formal |
| breakfast (casual) | 朝ご飯 | あさごはん | Everyday spoken form |
| waking up | 起床 | きしょう | Used in schedules |
| awakening | 目覚め | めざめ | State of waking |
| wake-up call | モーニングコール | もーにんぐこーる | Loanword |
| alarm clock | 目覚まし時計 | めざましどけい | Very common |
| sunrise glow | 朝焼け | あさやけ | Sky color at dawn |
| sunrise | 日の出 | ひので | Literal “sun appearing” |
| oversleep | 朝寝坊 | あさねぼう | Casual |
| bed hair | 寝癖 | ねぐせ | Informal |
| sleepiness | 眠気 | ねむけ | Physical state |
| early bird | 朝型 | あさがた | Morning person |
| night owl | 夜型 | よるがた | Opposite of 朝型 |
🌅 Morning Idioms & Proverbs in Japanese
| English Meaning | Kanji | Hiragana | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| early in the morning | 朝っ腹 | あさっぱら | Casual / slightly rough expression |
| a piece of cake | 朝飯前 | あさめしまえ | Literally “before breakfast” |
| early to bed, early to rise | 早寝早起き | はやねはやおき | Common proverb about healthy habits |
| in a very short time | 一朝一夕 | いっちょういっせき | Often used in negative form |
| The early bird catches the worm | 朝起きは三文の徳 | あさおきはさんもんのとく | Traditional Japanese proverb |
| Life is short like morning dew | 人生朝露の如し | じんせいちょうろのごとし | Literary / classical style |
| A night owl sleeps in | 宵っ張りの朝寝坊 | よいっぱりのあさねぼう | Describes late sleepers |
| fresh start, new beginning | 朝日が昇る | あさひがのぼる | Symbolic / poetic usage |
| morning sets the tone of the day | 朝の一歩は一日の始まり | あさのいっぽはいちにちのはじまり | Less fixed, explanatory proverb |
| mornings reveal true habits | 朝見て夕見ず | あさみてゆうみず | Classical proverb |
🚆 Vocabulary Associated with Japanese Morning Life
| English | Kanji | Hiragana | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| overcrowded train | 満員電車 | まんいんでんしゃ | Iconic part of city mornings |
| rush hour | 通勤ラッシュ | つうきんらっしゅ | Commuting peak time |
| rush hour (time-based) | ラッシュ時 | らっしゅじ | Used in announcements |
| radio calisthenics | ラジオ体操 | らじおたいそう | Morning exercise tradition |
| morning assembly | 朝礼 | ちょうれい | Common in schools & companies |
| morning TV drama | 朝ドラ | あさどら | NHK morning series |
| making a bento | お弁当作り | おべんとうづくり | Daily routine for families |
| morning ramen | 朝ラーメン | あさらーめん | Regional food culture |
| going back to sleep | 二度寝 | にどね | Very common casual term |
| hangover | 二日酔い | ふつかよい | Often morning-related |
| productive morning activities | 朝活 | あさかつ | Trendy self-improvement term |
| early-morning jogging | 早朝ジョギング | そうちょうじょぎんぐ | Health / fitness context |
| morning yoga | 朝ヨガ | あさよが | Modern lifestyle term |
| morning bath | 朝風呂 | あさぶろ | Relaxing morning habit |
🪥 Common Japanese Morning Routine (朝の習慣)
| English | Kanji | Hiragana | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| to get ready | 身支度を整える | みじたくをととのえる | General preparation |
| to brush one’s teeth | 歯磨きをする | はみがきをする | Daily hygiene |
| to wash one’s face | 顔を洗う | かおをあらう | Very common routine |
| to read the newspaper | 新聞を読む | しんぶんをよむ | Traditional habit |
| to listen to the radio | ラジオを聞く | らじおをきく | News / weather |
| to use the internet | インターネットをする | いんたーねっとをする | Modern routine |
| to check the weather | 天気予報を見る | てんきよほうをみる | Morning planning |
| to clean up | 掃除をする | そうじをする | Household task |
| to do the laundry | 洗濯をする | せんたくをする | Often in the morning |
| to do housework | 家事をする | かじをする | General chores |
⏰ Words That Define Morning Time in Japanese
| English | Kanji | Hiragana | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| very early morning (midnight–dawn) | 未明 | みめい | Used in news reports |
| dawn / daybreak | 夜明け | よあけ | Before sunrise |
| before dawn | 夜明け前 | よあけまえ | Literary / news |
| early dawn hours | 明け方 | あけがた | 3–6 a.m. range |
| early morning | 早朝 | そうちょう | Formal expression |
| morning | 朝 | あさ | Core time word |
| morning hours | 朝方 | あさがた | Time period nuance |
| morning (general) | 午前中 | ごぜんちゅう | Until noon |
| morning & evening | 朝晩 | あさばん | Daily rhythm |
| morning & evening | 朝夕 | あさゆう / ちょうせき | Formal / written |
| this morning | 今朝 | けさ | Very common |
| tomorrow morning | 明朝 | みょうちょう | Formal / news |
👇 You can learn more Janpanese words in the AvaTalks Learn section.
Days of the week, months, seasons, and expressions of time
Common mistakes to avoid
-
Using おはよう with strangers in formal places
It can feel too casual. Use おはようございます. -
Over-pronouncing “su” in ます
It’s fine, but natural speech often softens it. -
Skipping greetings entirely
In Japan, greetings are a basic social signal. Even a small おはようございます helps.
Learning tips to sound natural
- Learn greetings as pairs: phrase + situation (work vs friends)
- Practice the “easy safe” option: おはようございます
- Listen for rhythm: native speech is smooth, not choppy
- Use a short bow or nod in formal settings (optional, but natural)
Best habit: say the greeting first, then add one friendly sentence.It’s also worth to read Best Way to Learn Japanese.
FAQ
How do you say good morning in Japanese?
The most common way to say good morning in Japanese is おはようございます (ohayō gozaimasu). In casual settings, you can say おはよう (ohayō).
What is the difference between おはよう and おはようございます?
おはよう (ohayō) is casual and used with friends or family, while おはようございます (ohayō gozaimasu) is polite and used at work, with teachers, or with people you don’t know well.
Until what time can you say おはようございます?
Many people use おはようございます in the morning until around 10–11 a.m., but in workplaces it can be used later if it’s your first greeting of the day.
Can you say おはようございます in the afternoon?
Yes. In many Japanese workplaces, staff say おはようございます as a first greeting of the day even if the shift starts in the afternoon.
Is おは (oha) rude?
おは (oha) is very casual and mostly used in texts or among close friends. It can sound too informal for work, teachers, or strangers, so avoid it in polite situations.
Casual way of saying good morning in Japaneseは？
The casual way to say good morning in Japanese is おはよう (ohayō).
It is used with friends, family, and people of equal status, but should be avoided in formal or professional settings.
Ohayougozaimasu in Japanese とはどういう意味ですか？
おはようございます (ohayō gozaimasu) is the polite form of “good morning” in Japanese.
It literally means “it is early” and is used to show respect in workplaces, schools, and when greeting strangers.
Good Morning と Morning の違いは何ですか？
“Good morning” is a complete greeting used when speaking to someone.
“Morning” is more casual and conversational, similar to saying “Morning!” instead of “Good morning” in English.
The best way to say thank you in Japaneseは？
The most common way to say thank you in Japanese is ありがとうございます (arigatō gozaimasu).
In casual situations, people often shorten it to ありがとう (arigatō).
Conclusion
Learning good morning in Japanese is simple, but using it well is about context.
Use おはようございます when you want to be polite, and おはよう with people you’re close to. Once that feels easy, try a few casual variations in messages—then add a friendly reply to keep the conversation going.