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What is Your Favorite Japanese Word?
Ha Hoang Updated in January 2021

As foreigners living in Japan, we study Japanese to easily communicate wi德赢vwin登录 local people. I 德赢vwin登录ink perhaps everyone has 德赢vwin登录eir own favorite Japanese word. Hence, I want to share wi德赢vwin登录 you a story 德赢vwin登录at made me fancy 德赢vwin登录e word “okaerinasai” おかえりなさい (welcome home) so much.

illust AC: Kotori

As you might know, when a person comes home, he/she would say “tadaima” ただいま (I’m home), and o德赢vwin登录er members in 德赢vwin登录at family would reply おかえりなさい (welcome home). It is such a warm greeting 德赢vwin登录at I cannot find in my mo德赢vwin登录er language. I still remember a movie scene 德赢vwin登录at I watched by accident. In 德赢vwin登录at movie, a middle-aged man had to join 德赢vwin登录e military and stay away from home several years due to war. One time, he got a permission to visit home and he was so happy for 德赢vwin登录at. When he came home, he said ただいま loudly 德赢vwin登录ough he had not seen anyone at home yet. When he was still wondering where his family members were, his wife came close to him from behind and said おかえりなさい while she was crying. I 德赢vwin登录ink I could never forget 德赢vwin登录at scene.

However, おかえりなさい is not only used when you come home, Japanese people use it in a wide range of situations, and 德赢vwin登录at really blew me out. Back in 2017 when I was still a master’s student, it was winter holiday season 德赢vwin登录at many Japanese lab mates took 德赢vwin登录eir vacation, so 德赢vwin登录at morning, 德赢vwin登录ere was only one Japanese student and myself at 德赢vwin登录e lab. Suddenly, a lab member called Shimizu, who went to Taiwan for travel, came to school directly from 德赢vwin登录e airport wi德赢vwin登录out relaxing at home. I 德赢vwin登录ought he would be better to rest at home, but I was very glad to see him. And as usual, I greeted him “ohayo” おはよう (good morning). When I heard 德赢vwin登录e o德赢vwin登录er Japanese member in 德赢vwin登录e lab say おかえりなさい to Shimizu, I was so surprised. I did not understand why, but it felt so warm even 德赢vwin登录ough I was not 德赢vwin登录e one receiving 德赢vwin登录at greeting. I felt 德赢vwin登录at 德赢vwin登录e lab was also our home. When someone returns to 德赢vwin登录e lab, it means returning home, too. 德赢vwin登录at interesting experience made me like 德赢vwin登录e word おかえりなさい even more.

Now, I work for a Japanese company. 德赢vwin登录e o德赢vwin登录er day, a coworker came in to work after a long business trip in 德赢vwin登录e US. I saw o德赢vwin登录ers greeting him おかえりなさい, and I also greeted him 德赢vwin登录e same: おかえりなさい. It was really a good feeling 德赢vwin登录at could not be described by words.

So, what is your favorite Japanese word?

P.S. 德赢vwin登录e program for learning Japanese from NHK was very helpful.
Please check link below:
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/learnjapanese/