Synonym Nuance VS
How to say "Welcome" in Japanese
Both words can translate to "welcome", but which should you choose?
Japanese Option A
おかえりなさい
おかえりなさい (okaerinasai)
N5 / CEFR Syllabus
VS
Japanese Option B
迎える
むかえる (mukaeru)
N4 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Translation Difference
When translating "welcome" into Japanese, you must choose carefully between おかえりなさい and 迎える.
In Japanese, おかえりなさい (おかえりなさい (okaerinasai)) is typically associated with "Welcome home; Welcome back (response to 'tadaima')" (Syllabus Level: N5) and represents Said by those who are home to welcome someone who has just returned.
On the other hand, 迎える (むかえる (mukaeru)) maps to "to welcome, to meet (someone at a place)" (Syllabus Level: N4) and represents To go out to meet someone upon their arrival, to receive a guest, or to welcome an event/season. A literal translation of "welcome" can often sound unnatural to native Japanese speakers if mixed up!
Bilingual Context for "おかえりなさい"
私が「ただいま」と言うと、母は「おかえりなさい」と言いました。
When I said "Tadaima," my mother said "Okaerinasai."
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.
Nuance Mastery Quiz
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: "私が「ただいま」と言うと、母は「 ＿＿＿ 」と言いました。" (Meaning: "When I said "Tadaima," my mother said "Okaerinasai."")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "おかえりなさい" fits here because it means "Welcome home; Welcome back (response to 'tadaima')" in the context of: "When I said "Tadaima," my mother said "Okaerinasai."". "迎える" represents "to welcome, to meet (someone at a place)".