Hello everyone, I’m Miyabi. Welcome to Japan Phrase Adventure!
Today, let’s learn two very common Japanese greetings — “行ってきます (Ittekimasu)” and “いってらっしゃい (Itterasshai).”
⚠️ Note: If automatic translation is turned on, the Japanese text below may not display correctly.
Please click “View Original” to read this article in English for the best experience.
🎥 Watch the Conversation First
You can watch a short conversation using these phrases — with full explanations and English subtitles — in this video:
The Scene
A family at home in the morning:
行ってくる。
いってらっしゃい。帰り、何時になる？
んー、結構遅いかも。先に寝てていいよ。
そっか、わかった。いってらっしゃい。気を付けてね。
行ってきます。
This short exchange is very natural in Japanese homes — and packed with useful phrases!
“行ってきます (Ittekimasu)”
Meaning:
A greeting said when you leave home.
It literally means “I’m going now, and I will come back later.”
In daily life, it’s mostly used as a routine phrase, not something people think deeply about.
It carries a warm sense of temporarily leaving and returning safely —
almost like saying, “I’m off!” or “See you later!” in English.
💬 “いってらっしゃい (Itterasshai)”
Meaning:
A greeting said when you send someone off.
It literally means “please go and come back,”
and it’s always paired with Ittekimasu — one person says Ittekimasu,
the other replies Itterasshai.
🌿 When We Use These Phrases
We use “Ittekimasu” and “Itterasshai” in many everyday situations — not only at home.
Here are some examples from real life in Japan:
① On the way to school:
A student leaves home and meets a friendly neighbor outside.
The student says, “Ittekimasu,” and the neighbor replies, “Itterasshai.”
② On a school trip:
Students wave from the bus and say “Ittekimasu!”
Teachers and staff staying behind wave back and say “Itterasshai!”
③ At the office:
A salesman says “Ittekimasu” to coworkers before heading out to meet clients.
His coworkers smile and respond, “Itterasshai.”
These greetings can be used anytime someone leaves for a while —
not only between family members, but also among classmates, coworkers, and neighbors.
🗣️ Learn Through Real Conversations
Japanese changes depending on context, relationship, and situation.
That’s why it can’t always be directly translated into English.
The best way to learn is through real conversations, where you can feel the nuance.
🎧 Try listening to the full conversation in the video again,
and notice how natural Japanese sounds in daily life
❤️ Final Message
Thanks for learning with me!
Japanese can’t always be translated word for word —
but by understanding the feeling and situation,
you’ll start to sense the real beauty of the language.
If you enjoyed this lesson, please subscribe to my YouTube channel
for more natural Japanese conversations! 🌸
