Basically hello is translated \u3053\u3093\u306b\u3061\u306f (kon-nichi-wa) but the japanese greetings also depend on the time of the day. In the morning you often use \u304a\u306f\u3088\u3046\u3054\u3056\u3044\u307e\u3059 (ohayou gozaimasu) as hello. When you speak to friends and family the \u00a0\u304a\u306f\u3088\u3046\u3054\u3056\u3044\u307e\u3059 is often abbreviated to \u304a\u306f\u3088\u3046 (ohayou). Around noon or afternoon it is \u3053\u3093\u306b\u3061\u306f(kon-nichi-wa) and like you say \u201cgood evening\u201d you say \u3053\u3093\u3070\u3093\u306f(kon-ban-wa). There is one exception: If you are answering the phone you use \u3082\u3057\u3082\u3057(moshi-moshi). Other useful phrases are \u00a0\u305f\u3060\u3044\u307e (tadai-ma) ( it means \u201cI\u2019m home\u201d) and \u304a\u304b\u3048\u308a (oka-eri)(it means \u201cWelcome home\u201d).<\/p>\n
Close male friends and relatives use \u304a\u3063\u3059 (oss). Female Friends or friends with opposite gender don\u2019t usually use this informal greeting. This greeting is similar to \u201chey, man!\u201d or \u201chey, dude!\u201d<\/p>\n
Another informal greeting that is nowadays quite common is \u3088!(yo) , \u3088\u30fc!(you) or \u304a\u3046 (ou), they all mean \u201chey\u201d.<\/p>\n
The phrase \u6700\u8fd1\u3069\u3046 (saikin dou) is often used as a greeting, which would be similar to \u201cwhat\u2019s up?\u201d or \u201cwhat\u2019s new\u201d. As this phrase is also quite informal you should only use it to someone you are on familiar terms with, like a friend, relative, classmate or co-worker.<\/p>\n
Another useful phrase is \u4e45\u3057\u3076\u308a (hisashiburi) which is used to greet someone you have not seen recently. In English this greeting would be \u201clong time, no see\u201d or \u201cit\u2019s been a while\u201d. A more formal way to express the greeting would be \u304a\u4e45\u3057\u3076\u308a\u3067\u3059\u306d(o-hisashiburi desu ne).<\/p>\n