How to Say ‘Welcome.’ in Japanese
いらっしゃいませ。
irasshai mase
[ee-rah-shah-ee mah-seh]
💬 Usage Tip: [いらっしゃいませ] is the classic store/restaurant greeting. It is very polite and usually not something customers say back.
🇯🇵 In Japan: In Japan, staff often greet customers loudly with [いらっしゃいませ] as soon as they enter. A smile or small nod is enough as a response.
Phrase Breakdown
いらっしゃい
irasshai
[ee-rah-shah-ee]
welcome
A polite shop or restaurant greeting said to customers when they arrive.
店に入ると、店員がいらっしゃいと声をかけます。
When you enter the shop, the staff says welcome.
ませ
mase
[mah-seh]
polite ending
A very polite ending added to make the greeting more formal and respectful.
お客様に、いらっしゃいませと丁寧に言います。
To customers, you say irasshaimase politely.
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