おかえりなさい
okaerinasai
The English phrase "welcome back home" is translated into Japanese as おかえりなさい (okaerinasai).
This greeting is used specifically when someone is returning to a place where the speaker is already present, such as a home or an office.
Which one should you use?
The shortened form おかえり is used with family members, close friends or subordinates, whereas おかえりなさい is more polite and formal. For professional or business situations, the version おかえりなさいませ is used.
How does it change in a sentence?
Adding mase to the end makes the greeting extremely formal, often used by staff in hotels or high-end service industries to welcome guests.
How do you pronounce it?
okaerinasai
Did you know?
- The polite suffix なさい in おかえりなさい originally derived from a command form, but over time it evolved into a soft, welcoming expression of care.
- While おかえりなさい welcomes someone home, it is never used for a guest visiting for the first time, as that requires the word いらっしゃい.
- The phrase おかえりなさい is the essential response to ただいま, which means 'I'm home'. In Japanese culture, these two phrases form a ritualized call-and-response pair that confirms a person's safe return.
Examples in context
- おかえりなさい。Okaerinasai.Welcome back home.
Example conversation
A husband returns home from work and is greeted by his wife.
- 陽太 Yotaただいま。Tadaima.I'm home.
- 陽葵 Himari陽太さん、おかえりなさい。Youta-san, okaerinasai.Welcome back, Youta.
- 陽太 Yota今日も一日疲れたよ。Kyou mo ichinichi tsukareta yo.I'm tired from work today.
- 陽葵 Himariお疲れ様。ゆっくり休んでね。Otsukaresama. Yukkuri yasunde ne.Good job today. Please rest well.
