Japanese word of Good morning

When learning Japanese, one of the first greetings you'll encounter is "Good Morning." In Japanese, you can say this as "おはようございます /ohayou gozaimasu/".

Understanding "Ohayou" and "Ohayou gozaimasu"

おはよう /ohayou/ – This part translates directly to "Good morning" and is commonly used among friends, family, and close acquaintances.

おはようございます /ohayou gozaimasu/ – Adding "ございます /gozaimasu/" to "おはよう /ohayou/"makes it more polite, showing respect. It's often used when speaking to teachers, colleagues, or anyone you want to address formally.

How to Pronounce おはようございます

Japanese pronunciation may seem tricky at first, but breaking it down helps:

お /o/ – Pronounced like "oh."
は /ha/ – Pronounced like "ha" in "harmony."
よ /yo/ – Pronounced like "yo" in "yoga."
う /u/ – A soft sound, like a faint "oo" in "food."

ございます /gozaimasu/ – The "go" is like "go" in "goat," "za" like "za" in "pizza," and "masu" with a faint "oo" sound at the end.

Try repeating it slowly: お /o/・は /ha/・よ /yo/・う /u/・ご /go/・ざ /za/・い /i/・ま /ma/・す /su/!

When to Say おはようございます

Say "おはようございます /ohayou gozaimasu/" in the morning, typically up until around 10 or 11 a.m.

Around noon, it's "こんにちは /ko n ni chi wa/ hello" in Japanese. After 4 or 5 p.m, it's "こんばんは /ko n ban wa/ Good evening".

This greeting is a simple yet important step in sounding natural and polite in Japanese. Whether you’re talking to a friend or a colleague, knowing when and how to use "おはようございます /ohayou gozaimasu/" can make a great impression.