Japanese for English speakers House · Lesson 0

Greeting at the front door

Ritual Japanese greetings at the front door — ごめんください (announce arrival), どうぞ、いらっしゃい (please come in), お邪魔します (thanks for letting me in).

Conversation

  1. PX296 PX296

    ごめんください！

    gomenkudasai!

    Hello!

    Tip: This is a greeting used to announce you are entering someone's property

  2. Pishi Pishi

    あっ！ピー・エックス２９６号、

    ah! Pī ekkusu ni kyū roku gō ,

    Oh, PX296

  3. Pishi Pishi

    どうぞ、いらっしゃい

    dōzo, irasshai

    Please, come in

  4. PX296 PX296

    おじゃまします！

    ojama shimasu!

    Thank you!

    Tip: A greeting used when entering someone's house

Common questions

Quick answers about this lesson's grammar and vocabulary.

What does ごめんください mean?

Literally 'forgive me' — a greeting called out at the entrance of someone's home or shop to announce your presence.

What is お邪魔します?

Literally 'I will be a nuisance' — said when you enter someone's home, modestly acknowledging that you're intruding on their hospitality.

What does いらっしゃい mean here?

The casual form of いらっしゃいませ — 'welcome / come in' — used informally between friends and family.

Test yourself

Pick the English translation for each line from this lesson. Wrong answers are pulled from other Japanese lessons.

4 quick questions on what you just heard.

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