おはよう

• Reading: おはよう
• Romaji: ohayou
• Kanji breakdown: 早 (hayai/sou) — early, fast
• Pronunciation: /o.ha.joː/

Meaning

Good morning. A standard greeting used in the first half of the day.

The casual form is おはよう, while おはようございます is the polite version used with teachers, bosses, and strangers. Among friends and family, the short form is perfectly natural. Also commonly used as a first greeting when arriving at work, regardless of the actual time.

Examples

1. おはよう、今日もいい天気だね。 Good morning, it's nice weather again today.
2. 先生、おはようございます。 Good morning, teacher.
3. 毎朝おはようと言います。 I say good morning every morning.

Usage Guide

Context: morning greetings, daily life, workplace

Tone: friendly

Origin & History

Derived from the adjective 早い (hayai, 'early'). The original phrase was お早うございます, literally meaning 'it is early.'

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal