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Good Morning in Japanese and Other Essential Morning Phrases
おはようございます (good morning), Japanese learners!
At the start of the day in Japan, this polite phrase is how you greet an unfamiliar neighbor, your boss or someone else you want to show respect to.
You can use its more casual form, おはよう, when speaking to your family members or close friends.
Read on to learn more essential morning-time phrases you’ll need if you’re planning to live with a Japanese homestay family, sack out in a hostel or have Japanese roommates in a Tokyo apartment.
Contents
- Phrases for Before “Good Morning”
- Phrases for After “Good Morning”
- Phrases for Having Breakfast
- Additional Vocabulary
Phrases for Before “Good Morning”
If you’re rooming with someone in Japan, you might need to exchange a few words before you even get to “good morning.”
1. 目覚まし 時計 を 止めて ください (めざましどけいをとめてください)
Please stop the alarm clock.
2. 清々しい 朝 ですね (すがすがしい あさですね)
What a refreshing morning.
3. 布団 から 出られない (ふとんから でられない)
I can’t get out of bed.
4. 今日、僕達は 寝坊 できないよ (きょう、ぼくたちは ねぼうできないよ)
We can’t oversleep today.
5. 何時ですか？ (なんじ ですか？)
What time is it?
To respond, you’ll need to know how to tell time in Japanese.
6. トイレはどこですか？ (といれは どこですか？)
Where is the toilet?
7. まっすぐ行って、ここを右に曲がって… (まっすぐいって、ここをみぎに まがって…)
First go straight and then turn right here…
8. それから、顔を洗って、歯を磨く (それから、かおをあらって、はをみがく)
Then wash your face and brush your teeth.
9. 私は髪をとかすのよ (わたしは かみをとかすのよ)
I’ll just comb my hair.
Phrases for After “Good Morning”
When someone says good morning to you, you can say it back. Then the conversation may continue with any of the following phrases.
1. 元気ですか？ (げんきですか？)
How are you?
To reply, you might say: 私は元気です。ありがとう。 (わたしは げんきです。ありがとう。) I am fine, thank you.
2. 昨日は良く眠れましたか？ (きのうはよくねむれましたか？)
Did you sleep well last night?
A possible response: まあまあ。 (まあまあ。) So-so.
3. 爽やかな朝ですね (さわやかなあさですね)
It’s a beautiful morning.
4. 今日は、とても気持ちが良い天気です (きょうは、とてもきもちがよいてんきです)
It’s a nice day today.
5. 今日の予定は何ですか？ (きょうのよていはなんですか？)
What are your plans for today?
6. 今日はよろしくお願いします (きょうはよろしくおねがいします)
I’m looking forward to working together. / Please take care of me today.
Phrases for Having Breakfast
If you’re staying with a Japanese family, breakfast-time is a great opportunity to listen to how different family members speak to each other versus how they address you, a guest. Be aware of the different levels of formality in play.
Before you go, you can get some exposure to these and and other common expressions used in context by native Japanese speakers with FluentU.
FluentU is a learning app and website that uses authentic Japanese-language videos to teach Japanese at every level. For extra practice with any of the words and phrases in this article, you can use this program to see videos geared toward your language level. Use their interactive subtitles to create your own vocabulary lists and flashcard decks, and take custom quizzes.
Breakfast questions
1. お腹空いた？ (おなか すいた？)
Are you hungry?
2. 何を食べたいですか？ (なにをたべたいですか？)
What would you like to eat?
3. 何を飲みたい？ (なにをのみたい？)
What do you want to drink?
4. これは何ですか？ (これは なんですか？)
What is this?
5. このトーストを食べてもいいですか？ (このとーすとをたべても いいですか？)
Is it okay if I eat this toast?
Breakfast answers
1. 果物が食べたいわ (くだものが たべたいわ)
I want to eat fruits.
2. コーンフレークが食べたいな (こーんふれーくが たべたいな)
I want to eat cornflakes.
3. オムレツとベーコンがいいな (おむれつと べーこんが いいな)
An omelet with bacon would be nice.
4. 牛乳が飲みたい (ぎゅうにゅうが のみたい)
I want to drink milk.
5. オレンジジュースがほしい (おれんじじゅーすが ほしい)
I want orange juice.
6. 私もオレンジジュースがほしいです。ありがとうございます！ (わたしも おれんじじゅーすが ほしいです。ありがとうございます！)
I want some orange juice, too. Thank you very much!
This is a very polite way to phrase a response.
7. 私はコーヒーを飲むわ (わたしは こーひーをのむわ)
I am going to drink coffee.
Starting & ending a meal
1. いただきます
Thanks for the food. I’ll start eating now.
It’s customary for everyone at the table to say this at the start of a meal.
2. ごちそうさまでした
Thanks for the food. I am done eating.
It’s customary for everyone at the table to say this at the end of a meal.
Additional Vocabulary
Here are a few more Japanese words you might need in the morning:
1. あくび
Yawn.
2. パジャマ (ぱじゃま)
Pajamas.
3. 服 (ふく)
Clothes.
4. 新聞 (しんぶん)
Newspaper.
5. 納豆 (なっとう)
Natto.
Natto is made of fermented soybeans. It has a sticky texture and a strong smell and taste that Westerners may find unusual. This is a common Japanese breakfast dish, eaten with steamed rice.
Internalize all those great expressions, do some immersive listening practice, try some conversations and start every morning in Japan the right way.
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