A visit has a natural sequence: greet your host, ask about shoes, accept an offer and thank them when leaving.

The idea

Say お邪魔します as you enter someone else’s home; it politely acknowledges the intrusion. いただきます can accept an offered drink, while そろそろ失礼します signals that you are about to leave.

Patterns to compare
JapaneseMeaning
お邪魔じゃまします。Excuse me for intruding.
これはほんの気持きもちです。This is a small token for you.
そろそろ失礼しつれいします。It’s about time I took my leave.

Examples

  • お邪魔じゃまします。Excuse me for intruding.
  • 靴くつはここで脱ぬぎますか。Should I take my shoes off here?
  • お招まねきいただき、ありがとうございます。Thank you for inviting me.
  • これはほんの気持きもちです。This is a small token for you.
  • お茶ちゃをいただきます。Thank you, I’ll have some tea.
  • そろそろ失礼しつれいします。It’s about time I took my leave.
  • 今日きょうはありがとうございました。Thank you for today.

Read-aloud uses a synthetic Japanese voice available on your device. Voice quality and availability vary; it does not assess your pronunciation.

Watch out

いらっしゃい is a host’s welcome, not the guest’s entrance greeting. Customs vary by household, so ask where to remove your shoes if unsure.

Try it yourself

  1. ＿＿します。（お邪魔じゃま／いらっしゃい）

    Show answer or example answer

    お邪魔

    お邪魔します is the guest’s polite greeting on entering.

  2. 靴くつはここで＿＿か。（脱ぬぎます／履はきます）

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    脱ぎます

    脱ぎます asks about taking shoes off; 履きます means putting them on.

  3. そろそろ＿＿します。（失礼しつれい／お茶ちゃ）

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    失礼

    失礼します politely signals departure after そろそろ.

Use it today

Practise the visit aloud from the door to your departure, then change the drink or gift to fit your situation.