1A greeting — words or gestures exchanged when meeting or parting from someone, such as "good morning," "hello," or "goodbye."
近所の人に会ったら、必ず挨拶をするようにしている。
Whenever I meet neighbors, I make a point of greeting them.
新入社員は元気よく挨拶した。
The new employee greeted everyone energetically.
電話の最初に簡単な挨拶を交わした。
We exchanged a brief greeting at the start of the phone call.
子供に大きな声で挨拶するよう教えている。
I'm teaching my child to greet people in a clear, loud voice.
2A short speech given at a ceremony or gathering, such as an opening address or congratulatory remarks.
卒業式で校長先生が挨拶をした。
The principal gave an address at the graduation ceremony.
新年会の挨拶を社長が担当した。
The company president gave the speech at the New Year's party.
開会の挨拶が長引いて予定より遅れた。
The opening address ran long, delaying the schedule.
3A reply or reaction given in response to someone's greeting or remark.
こちらから声をかけたのに、挨拶さえ返ってこなかった。
I called out to him, but he didn't even respond.
丁寧な挨拶が返ってきて、少し安心した。
I got a polite response back, which put me a little at ease.
4A ceremonial visit made to offer congratulations, condolences, or introduce oneself as a matter of courtesy.
引っ越しの挨拶にと、隣人にお菓子を持って行った。
I brought some sweets to my new neighbor as part of the moving-in greeting visit.
お世話になった先生の家へ挨拶に伺った。
I paid a courtesy visit to the teacher who had helped me so much.
結婚の挨拶に、彼と一緒に両親の家へ行った。
I went with him to my parents' house to formally announce our marriage.
5Colloquial: revenge or retaliation, sometimes referred to this way with a sarcastic tone.
あんな真似をされたら、こっちも挨拶しないとな。
If he's going to pull something like that, I'll have to get him back.
後でしっかり挨拶してやるから覚悟しておけ。
I'll get my revenge properly later, so watch out.
6A jocular, sarcastic remark made in response to a rude comment, typically phrased as ご挨拶ですね ("What a fine thing to say").
「もう来なくていいよ」と言われて、「それはご挨拶だね」と返した。
When told "You don't need to come anymore," I replied sarcastically, "Well, that's a fine thing to say."
7Archaic (Zen), the original meaning: an exchange between Zen practitioners used to test one another's depth of enlightenment.
禅僧たちは挨拶を通して互いの境地を測り合った。
Through such dialog, the Zen monks gauged each other's spiritual attainment.
8Archaic: a bond or relationship between people.
二人は古い挨拶のある間柄だった。
The two of them had a long-standing connection with each other.
9Archaic: to mediate or intervene in a dispute, or the person who does so.
村の年長者が両家の争いに挨拶として入った。
The village elder stepped in as a mediator in the dispute between the two families.