How to Say ‘Welcome’ in Japanese
ようこそ
you koso
[yoh koh-so]
💬 Usage Tip: [ようこそ] means “welcome.” It feels warmer than a simple greeting and is often used for visitors or arrivals.
🇯🇵 In Japan: At a ward office, [ようこそ] is less common than in shops or events, but you may hear welcoming phrases depending on the staff member.
Phrase Breakdown
よう
you
[yoh]
wel
This is the first part of ようこそ, a set phrase meaning "welcome."
ようこそ、こちらへどうぞ。
Welcome, this way please.
こそ
koso
[koh-so]
come / indeed
This is the second part of the fixed greeting ようこそ, used to welcome someone.
ようこそ、と笑顔で言います。
I say, "Welcome," with a smile.
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