How to Say ‘Welcome.’ in Japanese
いらっしゃいませ。
irasshai mase
[ee-rah-shshai mah-seh]
💬 Usage Tip: This is the classic restaurant and shop greeting. It is very polite and fixed, so memorize it as one chunk: [いらっしゃいませ].
🇯🇵 In Japan: You will hear [いらっしゃいませ] everywhere in Japan, often loudly and energetically. Customers normally do not need to reply; a nod or smile is fine.
Phrase Breakdown
いらっしゃい
irasshai
[ee-rah-shshai]
welcome
The base welcoming expression used to greet customers.
入口でいらっしゃいと明るく声をかけます。
At the entrance, staff cheerfully say welcome.
ませ
mase
[mah-seh]
please (polite ending)
A polite service ending that makes the welcome expression more respectful.
接客ではませを使うと丁寧です。
In customer service, using mase sounds polite.
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