Japanese in 20 seconds
What do you say back to いらっしゃいませ (irasshaimase)? Nothing.
Shop staff in Japan call out “いらっしゃいませ” to every customer. It means welcome, and it is not a question — no reply is expected. A small nod is plenty.
The staff says
いらっしゃいませ！
Welcome!
What it means
- = Welcome!
- You say: nothing
It means welcome. And the right answer is... nothing!
Why?
It's a greeting for every customer, not a question. Nobody expects an answer. A small nod is plenty.
Say it slowly
いらっしゃいませ
i · ras · shai · ma · se
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