私の店へようこそ
Watashi no mise e yōkoso
The English phrase "welcome to my shop" is translated into Japanese as 私の店へようこそ (Watashi no mise e yōkoso).
While 私の店へようこそ is a direct translation of the phrase, a native speaker working in a retail setting would almost always use いらっしゃいませ to welcome customers into their shop.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase breaks down into watashi no (my), mise (shop), e (to/towards) and yōkoso (welcome).
Which one should you use?
私の店へようこそ sounds more like a phrase used in a greeting card, a website header or a formal speech rather than a natural spoken greeting in a retail setting.
How do you pronounce it?
Watashi no mise e yōkoso
When do people say it?
In Japan, a slight bow of about 15 degrees is a customary way to show respect when greeting customers.
Did you know?
- While いらっしゃいませ is the standard greeting, customers in Japan are not expected to reply to it. Answering with 'thank you' can sometimes create an awkward silence or break the flow of the store's atmosphere.
- The phrase いらっしゃいませ is derived from the honorific verb いらっしゃる, which is the respectful version of 'to go' or 'to come'. It essentially treats the customer's arrival as a high-status event.
- In many Japanese shops, you may hear いらっしゃいませ shouted loudly by staff, even if they do not make eye contact with you.
Examples in context
- いらっしゃいませ！いつも笑顔でお迎えいたしますので、どうぞゆっくりお楽しみください。Welcome! We'll always greet you with a smile, so please take your time and enjoy yourself.
- ご来店いただきましてありがとうございます。どのようなお手伝いができますでしょうか？Thank you for coming to our shop. How may we assist you today?
- いらっしゃい！新作のアクセサリーが入ってきましたよ。Welcome! We just received some new accessories.
Example conversation
Misaki visits Ren's new boutique for the first time.
- 蓮 Ren美咲さん、私の店へようこそ！Misaki-san, watashi no mise e yōkoso!Misaki, welcome to my shop!
- 美咲 Misakiわあ、とても素敵なお店ね。Waa, totemo suteki na omise ne.Wow, it's a very lovely shop.
- 蓮 Renありがとう。ゆっくり見てね。Arigatō. Yukkuri mite ne.Thank you. Please take your time looking around.
- 美咲 Misakiええ、楽しみにしていたの。Ee, tanoshimi ni shite ita no.Yes, I've been looking forward to this.
