Japanese as well as many other Japanese greetings. Japanese curry chicken wings if you want to learn more words and phrases in Japanese, try Drops! Japanese is likely an expression you’ve heard in the past, even if you haven’t ever studied the language before. But this isn’t the expression you’d use with close friends or family.

While it can be used in both formal and informal situations, you’re more likely to hear it used between strangers or in more formal situations. This expression, however, is very informal and it’s often just used to grab attention. A simple way to do this is by simply calling the other person’s name. You’ll commonly hear this said at work in the mornings.

To wish someone a good evening in Japanese, you use こんばんは. Has it been a while since you’d last seen the person you’re chatting with? To make this expression less formal, simply drop the お at the beginning of the sentence. This expression is more feminine and childlike in use. It’s very casual and is simply used to capture someone’s attention–particularly that of a close friend or child. The next phrase is a more masculine expression. Japanese is informal and typically used by male speakers to other male speakers, but of course, there are always exceptions to the rule!

When you return home, it’s common to announce your arrival. So it’s common to hear: はじめまして. If you enter a Japanese restaurant or store, you’ll likely be greeted with this phrase. It isn’t something you’d say to a friend or family member visiting your home. Weather is a common topic in small talk, and that’s no different in Japanese.