How to Say ‘Welcome home (reply)’ in Japanese
おかえりなさい
o kaeri nasai
[oh kah-EH-ree nah-SAI]
💬 Usage Tip: Among family it's often shortened to just おかえり.
🇯🇵 In Japan: This is the set reply to ただいま, said to someone arriving home or back at the office.
Phrase Breakdown
お
o
[oh]
honorific prefix
A polite prefix that makes the expression more courteous.
お名前をお願いします。
Your name, please.
かえり
kaeri
[kah-EH-ree]
return; coming home
Noun form of the verb 'to return home'.
かえりはなんじですか。
What time will you be back?
なさい
nasai
[nah-SAI]
please do (polite command)
Polite imperative form of the verb 'to do'; used in set phrases or gentle instructions.
はやく ねなさい。
Go to sleep early.
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