Konnichiwa?? Why?

[recklesswaltz]

Hi everyone! I wonder why some ppl use the word "konnichiwa" to greet someone. Ive seen some posts here in JF too where ppl start by saying "konnichiwa!!", but doesnt "konnichiwa" mean "good afternoon"? correct me if im wrong.. thank you..

[Tsuruneru]

Your right althow people should say it in all the terms.

[CaptainThunder]

It can also mean "hello" in the general sense.

[Tsuruneru]

Right there are lots of ways to say one thing in japanese.

[KyleGoetz]

Konnichiwa literally means "How is this day?"

Look at the kanji: 今日は. THIS + DAY + Topic marker. It's likely a shortened form of an older phrase, Konnichiwadoudesuka.

And English is what makes the whole "good afternoon" thing confusing. In US English, we tend never to say "Good day." Thus, the best translation for "konnichiwa" is never even uttered by native US English speakers. Hence, why you think "konnichiwa" means "good afternoon."

[Tsuruneru]

Yes well put.

[Keaton421]

Location: J-Rock City

Did you build this city on J-Rock and Roll?

[Sinestra]

Originally Posted by KyleGoetz

Konnichiwa literally means "How is this day?"

Look at the kanji: 今日は. THIS + DAY + Topic marker. It's likely a shortened form of an older phrase, Konnichiwadoudesuka.

And English is what makes the whole "good afternoon" thing confusing. In US English, we tend never to say "Good day." Thus, the best translation for "konnichiwa" is never even uttered by native US English speakers. Hence, why you think "konnichiwa" means "good afternoon."

kylegoetz the 2nd kanji 日means Sun right? with はbeing Ha but changed to wa when its alone?

[Yuusuke]

Konnichiwa litterally means
"This Day is"

but people use it for "good afternoon" and "hey"

[MMM]

Originally Posted by Sinestra

kylegoetz the 2nd kanji 日means Sun right? with はbeing Ha but changed to wa when its alone?

It ALSO means "sun". It also means "day" and "Sunday" depending on context.

は is pronounced HA, but when used as the particle "wa" it is pronounced WA.