In 15 Seconds
- Standard greeting used after sunset or around 6:00 PM.
- Written with 'ha' but always pronounced as 'wa' at the end.
- Safe for both friends and strangers in almost any evening setting.
Meaning
This is the standard way to say hello once the sun goes down. Think of it as your nighttime greeting for anyone you meet, from friends to shopkeepers.
Key Examples
3 of 7Entering a restaurant
こんばんは、二名です。
Good evening, two people please.
Meeting a friend for drinks
こんばんは！久しぶりだね。
Good evening! It's been a while, hasn't it?
Starting a formal speech
皆様、こんばんは。本日はありがとうございます。
Good evening, everyone. Thank you for being here today.
Cultural Background
The concept of 'Aisatsu' (greetings) is taught from a very young age as the foundation of character. A person who doesn't say 'Konbanwa' clearly is often judged as unreliable. In many offices, 'Otsukaresama desu' replaces 'Konbanwa' entirely. Saying 'Konbanwa' to a boss can sometimes feel too social and not professional enough. In small villages, you are expected to say 'Konbanwa' to everyone you pass, even strangers. In Tokyo, this is less common and might even be seen as suspicious. Late-night radio hosts often have their own unique versions of 'Konbanwa' to create a sense of community with their listeners.
The Bow
Always accompany 'Konbanwa' with a slight nod or bow (eshaku) to sound more natural and polite.
Spelling Trap
Even though your phone's autocorrect might suggest こんばんわ, always use は for the final character in formal writing.
In 15 Seconds
- Standard greeting used after sunset or around 6:00 PM.
- Written with 'ha' but always pronounced as 'wa' at the end.
- Safe for both friends and strangers in almost any evening setting.
What It Means
こんばんは is your primary nighttime greeting. It translates directly to "Good evening." In Japanese, it literally means "As for this evening." It’s actually the start of a sentence that never finished. Imagine saying "This evening..." and just stopping there. Everyone knows exactly what you mean. It’s warm, polite, and very common. It is the perfect way to acknowledge the transition into the night.
How To Use It
Pronounce it as "kon-ban-wa." The last sound is written with the character は (ha). However, you must pronounce it as "wa." This is because it acts as a grammar particle. Keep your tone steady and friendly. You don't need to bow deeply when saying it. A small head nod usually does the trick. It’s a very safe phrase for beginners to use. If you say it with a smile, you'll fit right in.
When To Use It
Use it once the sun starts to set. Usually, this is around 6:00 PM. If it’s dark outside, こんばんは is perfect. Use it when entering a restaurant for dinner. Use it when meeting a friend for late-night drinks. It’s great for late-night convenience store runs. Even in business, it works after hours. It feels more social than a simple "hello." It acknowledges the shared time of day.
When NOT To Use It
Don't use it while the sun is up. If it’s 2:00 PM, stick with こんにちは. Don't use it as a "goodbye" greeting. If you are leaving, use さようなら or おやすみ. It’s a bit formal for your own family. At home, most people say ただいま (I'm home). Avoid using it if you're waking someone up. That would be very confusing for them! Also, don't use it in the very early morning before dawn.
Cultural Background
Centuries ago, Japanese greetings were much longer. People would say "How are you this evening?" The full phrase was 今晩は、ご機嫌いかがですか. Over time, people got a bit lazy. They dropped the second half of the sentence. Now, only the "As for this evening" part remains. This happens a lot in Japanese culture. Brevity is often seen as efficient and polite. It shows a shared understanding between speakers. It's a linguistic fossil of ancient politeness.
Common Variations
こんばんは is surprisingly consistent across Japan. Unlike "Good morning," it doesn't have a common "short" version. You won't hear people saying just "Konban." In text messages, you might see こんばんはー. The long dash at the end adds a friendly trail. Some people might add a wavy line 〜. This makes the greeting sound more musical and soft. In very formal settings, the pronunciation stays exactly the same. It is one of the most reliable phrases you'll learn.
Usage Notes
It is a neutral greeting that fits almost any social situation after dark. Be careful to use the 'ha' character when writing it, as using 'wa' is a common spelling mistake even for some native speakers in casual settings.
The Bow
Always accompany 'Konbanwa' with a slight nod or bow (eshaku) to sound more natural and polite.
Spelling Trap
Even though your phone's autocorrect might suggest こんばんわ, always use は for the final character in formal writing.
The 5 PM Rule
When in doubt, start using 'Konbanwa' after 5:00 PM. It's rarely 'too early' at that point.
Family Silence
Don't be offended if Japanese family members don't say 'Konbanwa' to each other at home; it's a sign of closeness!
Examples
7こんばんは、二名です。
Good evening, two people please.
A standard way to greet staff when arriving for dinner.
こんばんは！久しぶりだね。
Good evening! It's been a while, hasn't it?
Used to initiate a casual meeting after dark.
皆様、こんばんは。本日はありがとうございます。
Good evening, everyone. Thank you for being here today.
Used to address a crowd politely at an evening event.
夜分に失礼します、こんばんは。
Excuse me for the late hour, good evening.
A very polite way to open a late-night message.
こんばんは。今日も温かいですね。
Good evening. It's warm today too, isn't it?
Perfect for polite small talk in the neighborhood.
こんばんは、猫ちゃん。お腹すいた？
Good evening, kitty. Are you hungry?
Using the greeting with animals adds a touch of humor.
こんばんは。今夜は月が綺麗ですね。
Good evening. The moon is beautiful tonight.
A classic, slightly poetic way to start an evening date.
Test Yourself
Which is the correct spelling for 'Good evening'?
Choose the correct hiragana:
The final 'wa' sound is the topic particle は.
Match the time to the correct greeting.
It is 8:00 PM and you meet your teacher. What do you say?
8:00 PM is evening, so 'Konbanwa' is appropriate.
Complete the dialogue.
A: こんばんは。 B: ________、お元気ですか？
The standard response to 'Konbanwa' is to repeat it back.
Choose the most natural phrase for the context.
You are leaving a restaurant at 9:00 PM. You say to the staff:
You don't say 'Konbanwa' when leaving. 'Gochisousama-deshita' (thank you for the meal) is correct.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Practice Bank
4 exercisesChoose the correct hiragana:
The final 'wa' sound is the topic particle は.
It is 8:00 PM and you meet your teacher. What do you say?
8:00 PM is evening, so 'Konbanwa' is appropriate.
A: こんばんは。 B: ________、お元気ですか？
The standard response to 'Konbanwa' is to repeat it back.
You are leaving a restaurant at 9:00 PM. You say to the staff:
You don't say 'Konbanwa' when leaving. 'Gochisousama-deshita' (thank you for the meal) is correct.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
12 questionsIt is pronounced 'wa' but written with the hiragana 'ha' (は) because it is a particle.
Generally after 5:00 PM or 6:00 PM, or once the sun starts to set.
Yes, but 'Otsukaresama desu' is often more common in a work environment.
Younger people might say 'Banwa', but it's quite slangy.
No, use 'Oyasuminasai' or 'Ja, mata' when leaving.
Usually, the other person will just say 'Konbanwa' back to you.
Rarely. In business emails, 'Osewa ni natte orimasu' is used regardless of the time.
No, it means 'Good evening'. 'Goodnight' is 'Oyasuminasai'.
Yes, it is a neutral-polite greeting suitable for most situations.
Yes, if it's already dark, 'Konbanwa' is perfectly fine.
No, it is used equally by all genders.
It's a common spelling mistake, often used intentionally in very casual texting.
Related Phrases
こんにちは
similarGood afternoon
おはよう
similarGood morning
おやすみなさい
contrastGoodnight
お疲れ様です
specialized formThank you for your work
今晩
builds onTonight / This evening
