挨拶をする

You treat this as a standard suru verb. To say 'I greeted my boss,' you use joushi ni aisatsu o shimashita. It is a very flexible phrase. You can use it with friends, family, or even a CEO. Just change the politeness of suru to match your situation.

Use it whenever you enter a room or see a neighbor. Use it when you start a meeting or leave a party. Even a small nod to the shopkeeper counts as aisatsu o suru. It is the first step in any Japanese social interaction. If you see a friend at a cafe, go ahead and aisatsu o suru!

Do not use it if you have been talking for ten minutes. That ship has already sailed! Also, do not use it for deep, long heart-to-heart conversations. It is strictly for the opening or closing moments of an encounter. If you are already mid-chat, you are past the greeting stage.

In Japan, aisatsu is taught from kindergarten as a core life skill. It is considered a sign of a 'proper' and reliable adult. If you do not do it, people might think you are grumpy. Or worse, they might think you are incredibly rude! It is the foundation of building trust in Japanese society.

You might hear aisatsu o kawasu, which means 'to exchange greetings.' This sounds a bit more formal or even poetic. There is also aisatsu mawari. This refers to the practice of visiting several people just to say hello. This is common for new neighbors or business partners.