迎える・邀える|むかえるmukaeru[0]heiban (flat)
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Which spelling to use
迎える迎える is the common choice and the spelling learners should use in their own Japanese.
邀える邀える is rarely used, so learners will seldom encounter this kanji-and-kana variant; use 迎える instead.
Definitions
- ichidan verb, transitive verbto go out to meet; to receive; to welcome; to greet; to salute; to hail
- ichidan verb, transitive verbto call for; to summon; to invite
- ichidan verb, transitive verbto accept (e.g. as a member of a group or family); to take (e.g. a wife)
- ichidan verb, transitive verbto reach (a certain time, a point in one's life, etc.); to enter (a new phase, new era, etc.); to approach (e.g. death)よいお年をお迎えください。↗I wish you a Happy New Year.
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 迎える（むかえる） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 迎えます（むかえます） |
| Negative (nai) | 迎えない（むかえない） |
| polite (masen) | 迎えません（むかえません） |
| classical zu / nu | 迎えず・迎えぬ（むかえず・むかえぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 迎えた（むかえた） |
| polite (mashita) | 迎えました（むかえました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 迎えなかった（むかえなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 迎えませんでした（むかえませんでした） |
| Te form | 迎えて（むかえて） |
| Potential | 迎えられる（むかえられる） |
| Passive | 迎えられる（むかえられる） |
| Causative | 迎えさせる（むかえさせる） |
| Causative passive | 迎えさせられる（むかえさせられる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 迎えれば（むかえれば） |
| tara | 迎えたら（むかえたら） |
| Volitional | 迎えよう（むかえよう） |
| polite (mashou) | 迎えましょう（むかえましょう） |
| Imperative | 迎えろ（むかえろ） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym迎え入れるむかえいれるNeutralTo go out and meet someone, then bring them inside, as in 「客を家に迎え入れる」; also used for taking someone in as a member.
- Related受け入れるうけいれるNeutralFor accepting a request or taking people in, as in 「難民を受け入れる」; the focus is on agreeing to accept, while 「迎える」 focuses on the act of meeting someone.
- RelatedもてなすNeutralTo entertain or look after guests warmly, as in 「客をもてなす」; the emphasis is on hospitality, not on the act of going out to meet.
- Antonym送るおくるNeutralThe opposite of 「迎える」: to see someone off or bid them farewell, as in 「客を送る」.
- Antonym追い出すおいだすCasualThe opposite of 「迎える」: to drive or force someone out, as in 「家から追い出す」; forceful and colloquial.
- Antonym拒むこばむWrittenOpposes the accept sense of 「迎える」: to refuse or block, as in 「入場を拒む」; written/formal prose.
「迎える」 is the default for meeting or welcoming someone. Accepting people or requests is 「受け入れる」, ushering someone in 「迎え入れる」, entertaining guests 「もてなす」. Seeing someone off is 「送る」, driving them out 「追い出す」, refusing them 「拒む」.
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
