And in fact, I sometimes say “allô” to friends when I meet them in person. (I use other words too.) Maybe it’s the influence of English, I don’t know. But it’s not only used on the phone.
As for the Chinese, I’m with Shalmanese. Upon walking into an apparently deserted shop, for example, a native speaker is likely to say “wei,” in an effort to see if anyone is about.* The scenario seems analogous.
- At least in SW Mainland.
moshi moshi is a hailing phrase. As you said, on the telephone it’s a greeting, and it’s also a way to confirm that the other party is receiving if the phone connection is spotty.
When not used on the telephone, *moshi moshi * is used as a way to get someone’s attention, like “Hey, you…”. A fairly neutral phrase, it doesn’t carry the politeness that the Japanese prefer. So generally you’d usually hear the exculpatory sumimasen, or “excuse me” to get someone’s attention.
In Hindi you’d never just say “Namaste”, which is the standard for Hello.
Instead, you’d probably say “Kaun”? (Who is it?) or “Koi hai?” (Is someone there?)
Then it must be a Canadian thing (though I never had a french canadian saying “allo” to me). I rest my case.
It’s situational. Movies / TV have the “dare ka ir?” because of the suspense factor. (The person there has a knife, after all. 
) As bordelond, wrote, the English for a similar situation would something be more like “Who’s there?”
“Hello” is used in many situations where “konnichi wa” is not; among family members, calling attention to people, etc.
In Britain, has the old use of “hello” as an exclamation of surprise become obsolete yet? I think I’ve only seen it in older literature. “Hello, what’s this?” When I was a kid reading old British books, at first I wondered who they were greeting, especially when they were alone, but I figured it out quick enough…
I read once that “hello” only became a greeting because of the telephone. When the thing was first invented, people started phone conversations with “Ahoy!” But then someone decided to revive the old word “Hello” which had been used by medieval hunters in forests to signal to one another when they couldn’t see each other. Variants: Halloo, Hollo. I don’t know if this story is true. How did English-speaking people greet one another before the telephone was invented? “Hi”? Or just “Good day”?
I don’t know, it seems if “hello” did not exist, it would be necessary to invent it. One needs a simple greeting that can be called out in passing, to acknowledge the other person’s existence without needing to stop and chat. If you say “Good day,” that seems to call for further socializing. “Oh, good day, Reverend Beazley, awfully beastly weather, what! Do be a good chap and drop round for a spot of tea,” etc. Instead of just “Hi! Howya doin!” and you’re outta there.
Anaamika, you reminded me of a funny incident I witnessed once. An Indian woman was listening to a cassette tape of Hindi film songs. This particular tape had bits of dialogue from the movie added to the songs. So at the end of the first side, she flipped over the tape. The second side had one of those long lead times. A couple minutes blank. She forgot she had it on and went about what she was doing. Everything was silent.
Suddenly out of nowhere a woman’s voice says “Kaun hai?”
Ever seen someone jump out of their skin?
Dear Og, that woman must have been me.
And also as an insult – as in “Hellohhh, is anyone in there?” --> Pay attention, you idiot!