こんばんは
Good evening
Wörtlich: As for this evening...
Use it as a polite 'hello' anytime it is dark outside to sound natural and friendly.
In 15 Sekunden
- 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.
Bedeutung
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.
Wichtige Beispiele
3 von 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.
Kultureller Hintergrund
The phrase is a 'truncated greeting,' a common phenomenon in Japanese where the end of a polite sentence is dropped. It transitioned from a formal inquiry about one's health into a standalone greeting during the Edo period. Unlike 'Ohayou,' which has a casual form, 'Konbanwa' remains relatively fixed in its formality.
The Sunset Rule
If you're unsure when to switch from 'Konnichiwa' to 'Konbanwa', just look at the sky. If the sun is down, you're safe to switch!
Not for Goodbyes
Unlike 'Good evening' in English, which can sometimes be used when leaving, 'Konbanwa' is strictly for arriving/meeting. Use 'Oyasumi' when leaving at night.
In 15 Sekunden
- 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.
Nutzungshinweise
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 Sunset Rule
If you're unsure when to switch from 'Konnichiwa' to 'Konbanwa', just look at the sky. If the sun is down, you're safe to switch!
Not for Goodbyes
Unlike 'Good evening' in English, which can sometimes be used when leaving, 'Konbanwa' is strictly for arriving/meeting. Use 'Oyasumi' when leaving at night.
The Hidden History
The 'wa' at the end is a grammar particle that means 'as for.' You are literally saying 'As for tonight...' and letting the listener fill in the rest!
Beispiele
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.
Teste dich selbst
Choose the correct character to end the greeting.
こんばん___
Even though it is pronounced 'wa', it is grammatically a topic marker, which is written as 'ha' (は).
Which time of day is most appropriate for this phrase?
It is 7:00 PM. You see your teacher. You say: "___"
7:00 PM is after sunset, making 'Konbanwa' the correct evening greeting.
🎉 Ergebnis: /2
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Formality of Konbanwa
Used with close friends, often with a long vowel at the end.
こんばんは〜
The standard form used with strangers, shopkeepers, and acquaintances.
こんばんは
Used in speeches or when addressing superiors at night.
皆様、こんばんは
When to say Konbanwa
At a Bar
Greeting the bartender
Night Walk
Greeting a neighbor
Texting
Starting a late chat
Dinner Party
Arriving at a house
Convenience Store
Entering at 10 PM
Häufig gestellte Fragen
10 FragenGenerally, you start using it after sunset or around 6:00 PM. If the streetlights are on, it's definitely time for こんばんは.
Yes, it is perfectly polite and neutral. For extra respect, follow it with a bow and an Otsukaresama desu.
It comes from the topic marker particle は. In Japanese grammar, this specific character is always pronounced 'wa' when it marks the subject.
Not really! While おはよう becomes おは, こんばんは almost always stays in its full form even among friends.
Yes, it's a very common way to acknowledge someone if you make eye contact during a night walk.
Don't worry! People will just think you're tired or lost track of time. They might even chuckle and say it back.
Yes, if you are sending the email late in the evening, it is a very natural way to start your message.
Usually no. Family members usually use Tadaima (I'm home) or Okaeri (Welcome back) instead.
While there are regional dialects for many things, こんばんは is standard and used the same way all across Japan.
Technically yes, but if you're meeting someone that late, it's often better to use Otsukaresama if you've been working, or just a casual 'Hi'.
Verwandte Redewendungen
こんにちは
Good afternoon / Hello
おやすみなさい
Good night (when leaving or going to bed)
おはようございます
Good morning
お疲れ様です
Thank you for your hard work (common evening greeting for colleagues)
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