What is the difference between "むかえる" and "迎える"?

"むかえる" means "to welcome; to meet; to pick up (a person)" (N5), whereas "迎える" represents "to welcome, to meet (someone at a place)" (N4).

Kanji Homophone Battle

Pronunciation Trap: "むかえる (mukaeru)"

Same sound, completely different Kanji! Choose the right conceptual writing.

Kanji Option A

むかえる (mukaeru)

N5 / CEFR

Kanji Option B

むかえる (mukaeru)

N4 / CEFR

In Japanese, many words share the exact same pronunciation "むかえる (mukaeru)" but are written with different Kanji, changing the meaning entirely.

むかえる (Level: N5): Translates to "to welcome; to meet; to pick up (a person)" and is used when Used when meeting someone at a designated place, often to bring them somewhere else, or to welcome a new event/year..
迎える (Level: N4): Maps to "to welcome, to meet (someone at a place)" and carries the nuance of To go out to meet someone upon their arrival, to receive a guest, or to welcome an event/season.

Mixing these up can easily result in unnatural writing. Look at the bilingual context cards below to master the conceptual boundaries!

Bilingual Context for "むかえる"

空港まで友達を迎えに行きます。

I'm going to the airport to pick up my friend.

Bilingual Context for "迎える"

空港に友達を迎えに行った。

I went to the airport to meet my friend.

Which Kanji perfectly fits this blank space?

Which Kanji perfectly fits the blank: "空港まで友達を迎えに行きます。" (Meaning: "I'm going to the airport to pick up my friend.")

🎉 Correct Answer!

Correct! "むかえる" is used for "to welcome; to meet; to pick up (a person)" in the context: "I'm going to the airport to pick up my friend.".