応対・応待|おうたいoutai[0]heiban (flat)
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Which spelling to use
応対応対 is the most common written form and the recommended choice for learners when referring to dealing with people, customers, or complaints, or receiving callers and visitors.
応待応待 is a less common variant written with irregular kanji. Learners should generally choose 応対 instead, including when referring to callers, visitors, customers, or complaints.
Definitions
- noun, suru verb, intransitive verbdealing with (people, customers, complaints, etc.); receiving (callers, visitors, etc.); attending to; handling; serving
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 応対する（おうたいする） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 応対します（おうたいします） |
| Negative (nai) | 応対しない（おうたいしない） |
| polite (masen) | 応対しません（おうたいしません） |
| classical zu / nu | 応対せず・応対せぬ（おうたいせず・おうたいせぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 応対した（おうたいした） |
| polite (mashita) | 応対しました（おうたいしました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 応対しなかった（おうたいしなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 応対しませんでした（おうたいしませんでした） |
| Te form | 応対して（おうたいして） |
| Potential | 応対できる（おうたいできる） |
| Passive | 応対される（おうたいされる） |
| Causative | 応対させる（おうたいさせる） |
| Causative passive | 応対させられる（おうたいさせられる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 応対すれば（おうたいすれば） |
| tara | 応対したら（おうたいしたら） |
| Volitional | 応対しよう（おうたいしよう） |
| polite (mashou) | 応対しましょう（おうたいしましょう） |
| Imperative | 応対しろ（おうたいしろ） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym接客せっきゃくNeutralServing customers or guests in shops, hotels and other service settings; not just store staff. 「応対」 is responding on the spot — phone calls and visitors are typical.
- SynonymあしらいNeutralHow people or things are treated, as in 「冷たいあしらい」; its tone depends on the modifier; also a dish garnish. 「応対」 is responding to people, not only visitors or callers.
- Related受け入れうけいれNeutralReceiving or accepting people or goods, as in 「難民の受け入れ」. 「応対」 is answering and dealing with the other party, in person or by phone, with no sense of taking them in.
- RelatedもてなしNeutralWarmly entertaining guests with food and drink. 「応対」 is just attending to someone and need not involve any hospitality.
- Related扱いあつかいNeutralHow someone or something is treated or handled, as in 「子供扱い」. 「応対」 focuses on receiving and answering people.
- Related歓迎かんげいNeutralWarmly welcoming someone. 「応対」 is simply dealing with a person and implies no warmth.
- Related待遇たいぐうNeutralTreating guests, and also the status and pay employers give staff, as in 「待遇改善」. 「応対」 is the concrete act of responding on the spot, not conditions.
- Related接待せったいNeutralEntertaining guests with food and drink — wining and dining clients, as in 「接待ゴルフ」; also serving tea to a crowd. 「応対」 is responding to someone, with no treating.
- Related接見せっけんWrittenA formal, official meeting, such as an audience or a lawyer visiting a detainee. 「応対」 is more everyday.
- Relatedお構いおかまいNeutralMostly in the negative, as in 「お構いもできませんで」, a humble apology for poor hospitality. 「応対」 is not used in such polite set phrases.
- Related迎賓げいひんWrittenWelcoming honored guests, as in 「迎賓館」. 「応対」 is not restricted to VIPs.
- Related接遇せつぐうWrittenWritten, formal prose for receiving guests, mainly service-industry training language; in daily speech say 「応対」 or 「接客」.
- Antonym無視むしNeutralIgnoring someone; the opposite of 「応対」's careful attention.
- Antonym放置ほうちNeutralLeaving things unattended; the opposite of 「応対」's attending and handling.
Use 「応対」 for responding to phone calls or visitors, as in 「電話応対」. For serving customers say 「接客」; for entertaining guests 「もてなし」; for wining and dining clients 「接待」; for how someone is treated 「扱い」.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
See also
