おかえりなさい
okaerinasai
The Japanese phrase for "welcome home" is おかえりなさい (okaerinasai).
This phrase is used specifically when someone is returning to their place of residence or a place where they belong.
Meaning: welcome home (phrase)
Which one should you use?
The shortened form おかえり is used with family members, close friends or people of lower social status. The full form おかえりなさい is more polite and is used when addressing guests, superiors or in more formal household settings. The form おかえりなさいませ is a formal expression used in businesses, hotels and traditional establishments.
How do you pronounce it?
okaerinasai
Did you know?
- In many Japanese households, the person returning home is expected to say ただいま immediately upon entering, which acts as a necessary verbal cue for the person inside to respond with おかえりなさい.
- The verb root of おかえりなさい comes from かえる, which can mean to 'return' to a place, but it can also mean to 'change' or 'transform' in different contexts.
- The most formal version おかえりなさいませ is common in 'ryokan' traditional inns to make guests feel as if the inn is their own home.
Examples in context
- おかえりなさい。Welcome home.This sentence is useful for practicing the phrase おかえりなさい.Tatoeba #10736388 by KK_kaku_, translation #64693 by Scott
- お帰りなさい！ごゆっくりおくつろぎください。Welcome home! Please relax and make yourself comfortable.
- おかえりなさいませ！今日もお疲れ様でした。Welcome home! Thank you for your hard work today.
- おかえり！待ってたよ！Welcome home! I've been waiting for you!
- おかえりなさい、お疲れ様でした。Okaerinasai, otsukaresama deshita.Welcome home, thank you for your hard work.
- あ、おかえりなさい！A, okaerinasai!Ah, welcome home!
Example conversation
Himari greets Kenta as he arrives at their apartment after work.
- 陽葵 Himariおかえりなさい、健太さん。Okaerinasai, Kenta-san.Welcome home, Kenta.
- 健太 Kentaただいま。Tadaima.I'm home.
- 陽葵 Himari今日も大変でしたね。Kyou mo taihen deshita ne.It was a tough day today, wasn't it?
- 健太 Kentaうん、やっと帰れたよ。Un, yatto kaereta yo.Yeah, I finally made it home.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
