ようこそ
yōkosostandard
In anime, "welcome" is ようこそ (yōkoso) when greeting a guest to a place. In shops and cafes the staff say いらっしゃいませ (irasshaimase). It is also called おかえり (okaeri).
Meaning: greeting to a guest (phrase)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization | Note |
|---|---|---|
| ようこそ | yōkoso | standard |
| いらっしゃいませ | irasshaimase | shop, polite |
| おかえり | okaeri | welcome home, casual |
ようこそ (yōkoso) is used for places such as a school, a club or a town. おかえり (okaeri) means "welcome back" and is said at home to someone who has returned.
When do people say it?
Maid cafe scenes in anime show the staff saying おかえりなさいませ (okaerinasaimase), "welcome back", to every guest.
Did you know?
- Shop staff in Japan often say いらっしゃいませ (irasshaimase) loudly from the moment you walk in.
Examples in context
- ようこそ、我が家へ。Yōkoso, wagaya e.Welcome to my home.
- おかえり！Okaeri!Welcome back!
Example conversation
At a small cafe, owner Mina greets guests Kou and Ema.
- Minaいらっしゃいませ！Irasshaimase!Welcome!
- Kou二人です。Futari desu.Two people.
- Minaこちらへどうぞ。Kochira e dōzo.This way, please.
