JLPT N2

こんばんは

こんばんは

good evening

JLPT N2

Usage of こんばんは

'こんばんは' is a polite and common greeting used in the evening, typically after sunset. It corresponds to 'good evening' in English and is used to greet people when meeting them in the evening hours.

Context and Register

This greeting is appropriate in both casual and formal situations, making it versatile for daily conversation, social events, and even some business contexts in the evening. It is less formal than 'お疲れ様です' but more polite than casual greetings like 'やあ'.

Common Collocations and Patterns

  • こんばんは、[comment] — Starting a conversation or greeting someone in the evening.
  • こんばんは、[name]さん — Polite way to greet someone by name in the evening.
  • こんばんは、今日は[topic]ですね — Used to comment on the current situation or weather after greeting.

Tips for Learners

Remember that 'こんばんは' is used only in the evening. Using it during the day or morning would sound unnatural. Also, it is a fixed phrase and does not change form, unlike some other greetings. Avoid mixing it with morning greetings like 'おはようございます'.

Example Sentences

こんばんは、きょうはいいてんきですね。

Good evening, the weather is nice today, isn't it?

ともだちにあったら、まず『こんばんは』といいます。

When you meet a friend, you first say 'good evening'.

よるのあつまりで『こんばんは』とあいさつするのがいっぱんてきです。

It is common to greet with 'good evening' at night gatherings.