日本では、挨拶がとても大切です。家族や友達だけでなく、学校や会社でも、毎日たくさんの挨拶を使います。挨拶は短い言葉ですが、人と人の関係を作るために、いちばん大事なものだと思います。
In Japan, greetings are very important. People use many greetings every day, not only with family and friends but also at school and at the office. Greetings are short words, but I think they are the most important thing for building relationships between people.
朝、会社や学校に行く時は「おはようございます」と言います。昼は「こんにちは」、夜は「こんばんは」を使います。友達には「おはよう」だけでもいいですが、先生や知らない人には、丁寧な言い方を使わなければなりません。
In the morning, when you go to work or school, you say "ohayou gozaimasu" (good morning). During the day people say "konnichiwa" (hello), and in the evening "konbanwa" (good evening). With friends, just "ohayou" is fine, but with teachers or strangers you have to use the polite form.
日本人は挨拶をしながら、お辞儀をします。お辞儀は頭を下げることです。相手が友達なら少しだけ頭を下げますが、先生や会社の人には、もっと深くお辞儀をします。お辞儀の深さは、言葉より気持ちをよく伝えるでしょう。
Japanese people bow while they greet someone. Bowing means lowering the head. If the other person is a friend, you only dip your head slightly, but with a teacher or someone from your company, you bow more deeply. The depth of the bow probably conveys feelings better than words do.
食事の時にも、特別な挨拶があります。ご飯を食べる前に「いただきます」と言います。食べた後に「ごちそうさまでした」と言います。家を出る前に「行ってきます」と言ったり、帰った時に「ただいま」と言ったりします。家族は「おかえり」と答えます。
There are also special greetings around meals. Before eating, you say "itadakimasu" to give thanks for the food. After eating, you say "gochisousama deshita." Before leaving home you say "ittekimasu," and when you return you say "tadaima." Family members answer with "okaeri."
子供のころから、家でも学校でも、挨拶を練習します。お母さんが「挨拶をしてください」と何度も言うから、子供たちは自然に覚えます。大人になっても、毎日の挨拶は続きます。会社では、仕事が終わった時に「お疲れさまでした」と言ってもいいです。
From childhood, both at home and at school, people practice greetings. Because mothers repeatedly say "please say hello," children pick them up naturally. Even as adults, the daily greetings continue. At the office, when work is finished, it is fine to say "otsukaresama deshita" (thank you for your hard work).
日本語の挨拶はたくさんありますけど、少しずつ覚えてください。英語の「ハロー」より種類が多いですが、時間や場面で使い分けるのが面白いです。挨拶ができると、日本人はとても喜びます。短い言葉が、人の心を温かくするでしょう。
There are many Japanese greetings, but please learn them little by little. There are more kinds than the English "hello," but it is fun to choose the right one for the time and the situation. When you can greet people properly, Japanese people are very pleased. Short words probably warm the heart.