Glossary entry (derived from question below)
English term or phrase:
Hello
Japanese translation:
Konnichiwa
Added to glossary by
Katalin Horváth McClure
Jan 10, 2010 10:40
14 yrs ago
English term
Konnichiwa
Non-PRO
English to Japanese
Other
General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters
We are working on a project where a character is visiting many different countries in the world. We're introducing the countries with a short line of copy starting with an official greeting of the country - i.e. for France, he'll say "Bonjour I'm in France..."
We are trying to find a generic greeting for Japan that is authentic but this seems to be quite open to debate. So we would like the greeting we've found confirmed accurate or if there is a better suggestions.
We are trying to find a generic greeting for Japan that is authentic but this seems to be quite open to debate. So we would like the greeting we've found confirmed accurate or if there is a better suggestions.
Proposed translations
(Japanese)
| 4 +2 | Konnichiwa |
Katalin Horváth McClure
|
| 5 +1 | Hello |
Kim Carlson Tadenuma
|
| 3 | depends on the time |
risa tomoyasu
|
Change log
Jan 10, 2010 10:40: changed "Kudoz queue" from "In queue" to "Public"
Jan 15, 2010 00:37: Katalin Horváth McClure Created KOG entry
Jan 15, 2010 00:38: Katalin Horváth McClure changed "Edited KOG entry" from "<a href="/profile/31778">Katalin Horváth McClure's</a> old entry - "Konnichiwa"" to ""Konnichiwa""
Proposed translations
+2
5 hrs
Katalin Horváth McClure
United States
United States
Works in field
United States
Expert: high-tech, software, engineering
Native in: Hungarian 
Works in: English to Hungarian, Japanese to English, Hungarian to English, and 3 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
7
Selected
Konnichiwa
If I understand the context correctly, it is like a TV reporter reporting from Japan, and he starts off his program saying something like "Hello, I am in Japan, and I am going to tell you about ...".
So, it is not a situation when a person meets another, rather a general greeting from one person to an unknown audience.
In this case, I think "Konnichiwa" is the best solution, unless the reporter is talking at nighttime (for example introducing the various neon displays of a busy Tokyo street at night), with an obvious nighttime scene in the background, in which case "Konbanwa" would be better.
So, it is not a situation when a person meets another, rather a general greeting from one person to an unknown audience.
In this case, I think "Konnichiwa" is the best solution, unless the reporter is talking at nighttime (for example introducing the various neon displays of a busy Tokyo street at night), with an obvious nighttime scene in the background, in which case "Konbanwa" would be better.
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "thank you"
3 hrs
risa tomoyasu
Native in Japanese
Specializes in field
feel free to contact me ... まずはご連絡ください。
Native in: Japanese 
Works in: English to Japanese, Japanese to English
depends on the time
if the person meets another for the first time, 'hajimemashite' is the better word.
if the person meets another again, 'ohayou gozaimasu' in the morning, 'konnichiwa' in the afternoon, and 'konbanwa' at night.
I was looking for a generic word, but all I can think of is 'domo' and it is too casual, I suppose.
if the person meets another again, 'ohayou gozaimasu' in the morning, 'konnichiwa' in the afternoon, and 'konbanwa' at night.
I was looking for a generic word, but all I can think of is 'domo' and it is too casual, I suppose.
+1
12 hrs
Kim Carlson Tadenuma
Japan
Japan
Native in English
&
Japanese
Specializes in field
Japan
At your Service, Always on Time
Native in: English , Japanese
Works in: Japanese to English, English to Japanese
Hello
This is fine. Even on TV when they start the news, the announcer says, "Konbanha" (good evening) or "konnichiwa" and hajimemashita is fine too, but konnichiwa is fine and easier.
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