わが家へようこそ
wagaya e yōkoso
わが家へようこそ (wagaya e yōkoso) is the Japanese phrase for "welcome to our home".
This phrase is typically used in written contexts (like a welcome sign or a greeting card) or in formal speeches rather than in casual, everyday spoken conversation between close friends.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase consists of ようこそ (yōkoso), which is the standard way to express "welcome" when receiving someone at a destination and the particle へ (e), which indicates the direction or destination, meaning "to".
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The phrase わが家へようこそ is formal and uses わが家 (wagaya) instead of uchi, which makes it sound more formal, literary or slightly more emphatic than a casual greeting.
How does it change in a sentence?
The particle へ (e) is used to indicate the direction or destination of the welcome, translating to "to".
How do you pronounce it?
wagaya e yōkoso
When do people say it?
In Japanese culture, it is customary to offer slippers to guests when they enter your home.
Did you know?
- Although ようこそ means 'welcome', it is grammatically derived from the word よく (yoku), meaning 'well' or 'sufficiently', implying that the guest has traveled well to arrive.
- While you might say 'welcome' in a speech, when a guest actually walks through your door, you are much more likely to say お待ちしておりました (omachi shite orimashita), which means 'we have been waiting for you'.
- If you were welcoming someone to a business office instead of a home, you would likely avoid ようこそ and use いらっしゃいませ (irasshaimase), which is the standard welcome in commercial spaces.
Examples in context
- わが家へようこそ。Wagaya e yōkoso.Welcome to our home.
- わが家へようこそ、どうぞ入ってください。Wagaya e yōkoso, dōzo haitte kudasai.Welcome to our home, please come in.
Example conversation
Yota welcomes Misaki to his house for a visit.
- 陽太 Yotaわが家へようこそ、美咲さん。Wagaya e yōkoso, Misaki-san.Welcome to our home, Misaki.
- 美咲 Misakiお邪魔します。Ojama shimasu.Thank you for having me.
- 陽太 Yota中に入ってください。Naka ni haitte kudasai.Please come inside.
- 美咲 Misakiありがとうございます。Arigatō gozaimasu.Thank you very much.
