Japanese phrases for writing to a friend

The structure of a friendly Japanese letter

A letter to a pen pal can follow this simple order. Leave a blank line between paragraphs and use a nickname for your name.

• Greeting: start with はじめまして for your first letter or こんにちは for a later one.
• Opening line: introduce yourself briefly or thank your friend for their letter.
• Body: share something about your day and ask an easy question.
• Closing line: say you look forward to writing again.
• Sign-off and name: use a short farewell such as またね with a close friend, then your nickname. A formal sign-off is optional in a friendly letter.

Greetings and a little about you

Use はじめまして when you first introduce yourself. For later letters, こんにちは or a thank-you for their letter makes a warm opening. The romaji uses Hepburn spelling; a bar over a vowel, as in ō, marks a long sound.

Formal Japanese letters may begin with seasonal greetings. A casual letter can skip these. Write a nickname and something you enjoy instead of personal details. You do not need あなた, meaning “you”, in every sentence: Japanese often leaves out the person when the meaning is clear.

• はじめまして (hajimemashite): Nice to meet you.
• こんにちは (konnichiwa): Hello.
• お手紙ありがとうございます (otegami arigatō gozaimasu): Thank you for your letter.
• ソラと呼んでください (Sora to yonde kudasai): Please call me Sora.
• 音楽を聴くのが好きです (ongaku o kiku no ga suki desu): I like listening to music.

Questions that are easy to answer

Choose a question about music, food or a hobby, then give your own answer too. “I like spring because the days get warmer” gives your friend something to respond to.

These polite endings fit a new pen pal. Ask for a small language tip without expecting a whole lesson.

• どんな音楽が好きですか？ (donna ongaku ga suki desu ka?): What kind of music do you like?
• 好きな食べ物は何ですか？ (suki na tabemono wa nan desu ka?): What is your favourite food?
• どの季節が好きですか？ (dono kisetsu ga suki desu ka?): Which season do you like?
• この言葉はどういう意味ですか？ (kono kotoba wa dō iu imi desu ka?): What does this word mean?

Reactions and warm words

Pick up something your friend wrote. If they tried a new recipe, say it sounds delicious, then ask what they liked about it.

本当に？ and すごい！ are casual reactions. With someone new, 本当ですか？ (hontō desu ka?, really?) and すごいですね！ (sugoi desu ne!, that is amazing!) keep the tone polite. An excited reaction fits a happy story, while a quiet thank-you fits something personal.

• 本当に？ (hontō ni?): Really?
• すごい！ (sugoi!): Wow! / That is amazing!
• ありがとう！ (arigatō!): Thank you!
• うれしいです (ureshii desu): I am happy.
• おいしそうですね (oishisō desu ne): That sounds or looks delicious.

How to end your letter

Choose a closing that fits how well you know each other. またね means you hope to talk again; it need not mean an in-person meeting. 元気でね is a warm “take care”.

お返事待ってるね is casual and affectionate. For a new pen pal, the polite お返事を楽しみにしています feels less familiar. Leave room to reply in their own time. You do not need a business sign-off such as 敬具 (keigu).

• またね (mata ne): See you / Talk to you again.
• お返事待ってるね (ohenji matteru ne): I will be waiting for your reply.
• 元気でね (genki de ne): Take care.
• お返事を楽しみにしています (ohenji o tanoshimi ni shite imasu): I look forward to your reply.

A short Japanese letter with a translation

This first letter uses polite Japanese, a nickname and everyday interests. Change the hobby and food to things you really like. Keep sentences short enough that you understand what you are sending.

• 日本語を勉強しています (Nihongo o benkyō shite imasu): I am learning Japanese.
• 少しずつ話せたらうれしいです (sukoshi zutsu hanasetara ureshii desu): I would be happy if we could talk little by little.

Polite or casual Japanese?

Start with です／ます for a new pen pal. These endings can sound warm in a friendly letter. You can try casual endings when your friend uses them and you both feel comfortable; staying polite is fine too. Avoid copying slang you do not understand.

Try a greeting and a short story in a Sea Pals letter.

Photos between people who met by letter need 5 messages from each side and the receiver’s yes.

• 音楽が好きです (ongaku ga suki desu): I like music — polite.
• 音楽が好き (ongaku ga suki): I like music — casual.

Common mistakes in a Japanese letter

Read your letter once before sending it. Short sentences you understand are easier to reply to than copied phrases whose tone you do not know.

• Avoid repeating あなた in every sentence; Japanese often leaves out “you” when the meaning is clear.
• Do not mix unfamiliar slang with polite です／ます endings. Stay with a tone you can use comfortably.
• Do not add 拝啓 and 敬具 just because they appear in a formal example. A friendly greeting and closing suit a pen pal.