What is the difference between "むかえる", "おかえりなさい", "迎える", "空谷之足音"?

"むかえる" means "to welcome; to meet; to pick up (a person)", "おかえりなさい" means "Welcome home; Welcome back (response to 'tadaima')", "迎える" means "to welcome, to meet (someone at a place)", "空谷之足音" means "Welcome news or a long-awaited visitor".

Quadruple VS

Synonym Boundary: "むかえる", "おかえりなさい", "迎える", "空谷之足音"

All represent the core concept "welcome", but require precise selection.

Japanese Option A

むかえる

むかえる (mukaeru)

N5 / CEFR

Japanese Option B

おかえりなさい

おかえりなさい (okaerinasai)

N5 / CEFR

Japanese Option C

迎える

むかえる (mukaeru)

N4 / CEFR

Japanese Option D

空谷之足音

くうこくのそくおん (kuukokunosokuon)

C2 / CEFR

Quadruple VS Nuance Contrast & Social Differences

When expressing "welcome" in Japanese, you must carefully distinguish between "むかえる", "おかえりなさい", "迎える", "空谷之足音" based on context.

むかえる (むかえる (mukaeru) - Level: N5): Maps 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..
おかえりなさい (おかえりなさい (okaerinasai) - Level: N5): Maps to "Welcome home; Welcome back (response to 'tadaima')" and is used when Said by those who are home to welcome someone who has just returned.
迎える (むかえる (mukaeru) - Level: N4): Maps to "to welcome, to meet (someone at a place)" and is used when To go out to meet someone upon their arrival, to receive a guest, or to welcome an event/season.
空谷之足音 (くうこくのそくおん (kuukokunosokuon) - Level: C2): Maps to "Welcome news or a long-awaited visitor" and is used when Essential structural term in CEFR C2 vocabulary syllabus..

Mixing these up can easily lead to unnatural translations. Refer to the bilingual context cards below to master the boundaries!

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.

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."

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.

Context for "空谷之足音"

私は空谷之足音に興味があります。

I am interested in Welcome news or a long-awaited visitor.

Synonym Mastery Challenge

Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?

Fill in 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!

Remember: "むかえる" is correct here because it represents "to welcome; to meet; to pick up (a person)" in the context: "I'm going to the airport to pick up my friend.".