今日は

Japanese

Kanji in this term
今	日

Etymology

From 今日 (konnichi, “this day, today”) + は (wa, topic particle); shortened from various possible expressions such as 今日は御機嫌いかがですか (konnichi wa go-kigen ikaga desu ka, "How are you doing today?") or 今日は良い天気ですね (konnichi wa yoi tenki desu ne, "it's fine weather today, isn't it").

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ko.ɴ.ni.t͡ɕi.wa/, [kõ̞ɴnit͡ɕiɰᵝä], [kõ̞nit͡ɕiɰᵝä]

In faster or more informal speech, the uvular nasal ɴ is not fully pronounced.

Interjection

今日は (hiragana こんにちは, romaji konnichi wa)

1. good day, good afternoon: a Japanese greeting used in the daytime

Coordinate terms

• おはようございます (ohayō gozaimasu): good morning
• 今晩は (こんばんは, konban wa): good evening
• お休みなさい (おやすみなさい, oyasumi nasai): good night (said when parting company)