Choose こんにちは for casual or polite daytime greetings, and switch to こんばんは after sunset.
Choose こんにちは for casual or polite daytime greetings, and switch to こんばんは after sunset.
Using こんにちは after dark sounds odd; it should be replaced with こんばんは.
Derived from the phrase 今日は (konnichi wa) meaning “as for today,” which was shortened to the greeting.
What does こんにちは mean?
こんにちは means hello or good afternoon, used during the day.
When should I use こんにちは instead of こんばんは?
Use こんにちは before sunset; after dark, switch to こんばんは.
Is こんにちは formal or informal?
It is a neutral, polite greeting suitable for most situations.
Can こんにちは be used in written Japanese?
Yes, it appears in letters, emails, and messages as a standard greeting.
What is the origin of こんにちは?
It comes from the older phrase 今日は, meaning “as for today,” which was shortened to the greeting.