Being a guest and hosting

The polite phrases you'll need throughout a visit to the home of an older person or someone you don't know well.

1. おじゃまします。

   Sorry to intrude.

   The set phrase for entering someone's home; when you leave, it changes to the past form 「おじゃましました」, so the two form a pair, one for going in and one for going out.

2. これ、よかったらどうぞ。

   Here, take this if you'd like.

   The modern way to offer a gift; the old-fashioned phrase 「つまらないものですが」 is rarely used these days, so it's enough to understand it when you hear it.

3. 素敵すてきなお部屋へやですね。

   What a lovely room!

   Opening with a compliment as you step inside is part of being a polite guest; the お in お部屋 is a beautifying prefix used for the other person's belongings.

4. あ、どうぞお構かまいなく。

   Oh, please don't go to any trouble.

   A polite thing to say when your host gets up to prepare tea — they will most likely bring it over anyway; the phrase is a courtesy, not a real attempt to stop them.

5. そろそろ失礼しつれいします。

   Well, I'd better get going.

   「そろそろ」 is the signal to get up, giving your farewell a buffer; saying 「帰ります」 outright would come across as abrupt.

6. 今日きょうはごちそうさまでした。楽たのしかったです。

   Thank you for having me over today. I had a great time.

   Said when taking your leave after being treated to a meal; it's even more thoughtful to follow up with 「この間（あいだ）はごちそうさま」 the next time you meet.

The same visit in casual speech (タメ口): arriving at the entryway, offering cake, complimenting the new home, and saying goodbye.

1. customer

   こんにちは。おじゃまします。

   Hello. Thanks for having me.

   「おじゃまします」is a set phrase, said just the same at a friend's house—however casual the register, this line isn't skipped when you come in.
2. Host

   いらっしゃい。どうぞ上あがって。

   Hi, welcome! Come on in.

   The host greets guests with「いらっしゃい」(no ませ — that's what shops say); 「上がる」= to come into the house, since in Japanese homes you take off your shoes at the entrance and step "up" inside.
3. customer

   これ、よかったら。駅前えきまえのケーキ。

   Here, if you'd like. It's cake from the shop by the station.

   When handing something over between friends, half a sentence like「よかったら」is all you need; showing up empty-handed is a bit rude in Japan.
4. Host

   わあ、ありがとう。今いま、お茶ちゃ入いれるね。

   Wow, thanks! I'll make some tea right now.

   「お茶を入れる」 means "to make tea"; the sentence-final 「ね」 casually tells the listener what you yourself are going to do.
5. customer

   ありがとう。いい部屋へやだね。

   Thanks. Nice place, huh?
6. Host

   でしょ？先月せんげつ引ひっ越こしたばかりなんだ。

   Right? I just moved in last month.

   「でしょ？」= "right?", seeking agreement; 「〜たばかり」= "just ... a little while ago"; 「なんだ」is the spoken form of 「のだ」, adding a reason.
7. customer

   そろそろ帰かえるね。今日きょうはありがとう。

   I should probably head home. Thanks for today!

   Casual goodbye between friends: keep 「そろそろ」 as is, swap 「失礼します」 for 「帰るね」 — the buffer stays the same, the register drops a level.