我が家へようこそ
wagaya e yōkoso
我が家へようこそ (wagaya e yōkoso) is the Japanese phrase for "welcome to my house".
This phrase is a greeting used to welcome someone who has just arrived at the speaker's home. It is often used in written contexts, such as in a speech or a greeting on a blog, rather than in casual daily conversation.
What does it mean word for word?
The particle へ (written as 'he') indicates direction toward a destination, meaning "to" or "towards". The word ようこそ is a welcoming expression that does not require a verb to complete the sentence.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Using 我が家 instead of uchi or ie gives the phrase a slightly more formal, poetic or emphatic tone.
How does it change in a sentence?
The particle へ indicates movement towards the destination, which in this case is the house.
How do you pronounce it?
wagaya e yōkoso
When do people say it?
When inviting someone inside, you might also use Douzo, o-agari kudasai, which means "please come in."
Did you know?
- The word 我が家 uses the possessive 我 (ware), which is an archaic first-person pronoun that is rarely used in spoken conversation today.
- Japanese has a distinct concept of 'uchi' (inside) and 'soto' (outside) that dictates not just which words are used, but how a person's social identity changes the moment they cross the threshold of the house.
- If a guest is welcomed into a home, they may bring a 'temiyage' or small gift, as arriving empty-handed is often considered a breach of etiquette regardless of how warmly they are greeted.
Examples in context
- 我が家へようこそ。wagaya e yōkoso.Welcome to my house.
- 我が家へようこそ！準備はいいですか？wagaya e yōkoso! junbi wa ii desu ka?Welcome to my house! Are you ready?
Example conversation
Ren arrives at Yui's front door.
- 結衣 Yui蓮くん、我が家へようこそ！Ren-kun, wagaya e youkoso!Ren, welcome to my house!
- 蓮 Renお邪魔します。Ojamashimasu.Thank you for having me.
- 結衣 Yuiどうぞ、中に入って。Douzo, naka ni haitte.Please, come inside.
- 蓮 Renありがとうございます。Arigatou gozaimasu.Thank you very much.
