Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 歡迎 / 欢迎 | huānyíng | |
| 歡迎光臨 / 欢迎光临 | hoan-gêng kong-lîm | Hokkien |
The word is used as a greeting given upon someone's arrival. In Mandarin, 欢迎 (huānyíng) functions both as a greeting and as a verb meaning "to welcome" someone. For an even warmer expression, you can use the phrase 热烈欢迎. To emphasize the actual act of welcoming someone, especially in official or ceremonial contexts, the formal expression 迎接 is used.
What does it mean word for word?
The word 欢迎 (huānyíng) is composed of two parts: 歡 (huān), which means "joy/happiness" and 迎 (yíng), which means "to meet/greet".
Which one should you use?
While 欢迎 is a general greeting, 歡迎光臨 is a specific greeting used in the service industry that implies "welcome to our establishment".
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
欢迎 is the most common and widely used way to say "welcome" in Chinese. The phrase 歡迎光臨 is a formal version specifically used by staff in shops or restaurants to greet customers. Similarly, 迎接 is a formal expression used to emphasize the action of welcoming in official or ceremonial settings.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The form хуанйин is used in Dungan, while 歡迎光臨 / 欢迎光临 is used in Hokkien.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation for 歡迎 / 欢迎 is huānyíng.
When do people say it?
The phrase 歡迎光臨 is commonly seen on signs or banners outside shops, restaurants or venues to express a warm welcome to customers or guests.
Did you know?
- While 欢迎 is used for welcomes, Chinese has a different word for 'you are welcome' after a thank you: 不客气. This literally translates to 'do not be polite', reflecting a cultural value of minimizing formality between friends.
- The phrase 欢迎光临 contains the word 光临, which literally means 'the light arrives'. It treats the guest's presence as a source of light that illuminates the establishment.
- In many Chinese shops and restaurants, you will hear the staff shout 欢迎光临 in unison as you enter. This collective greeting is a standard service custom to show the guest they are being recognized by the whole team.
Examples in context
- 欢迎光临我们的公司。Welcome to our company.
- 热烈欢迎各位嘉宾的到来！A warm welcome to all our distinguished guests!
- 欢迎来我家玩!Welcome to my house!
- 欢迎来我们饭店!Welcome to our restaurant!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “welcome” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
