いってらっしゃい
itterasshai
See you later/Go and come back
Phrase in 30 Seconds
A essential daily greeting said to someone leaving the house or office, wishing them a safe trip and return.
- Means: 'Please go and come back safely' (literally 'Go and be').
- Used in: Home settings when family leaves or at work when colleagues go out.
- Don't confuse: Never say this if YOU are the one leaving; use 'Ittekimasu' instead.
Explanation at your level:
Significado
A phrase said to someone leaving home or the workplace.
Contexto cultural
The greeting is part of a strict 'call and response' culture. Not saying it back can be seen as a sign of a fight or a broken relationship within the family. When a coworker leaves the office for a client visit, the entire team might say 'Itterasshai' to show solidarity. It acknowledges that the person is working for the group's benefit. At a Ryokan (inn), the staff will often bow deeply and say 'Itterasshaimase' as you leave for a walk, even if you are just going to the corner store. On Japanese live-streaming platforms (like NicoNico or Twitch), when a streamer takes a 'toilet break' or 'food break,' the chat will often spam 'いってらっしゃい' or 'いってら'.
The 'Mase' Power
If you're unsure of the formality level in a shop or office, just add 'mase'. It's never wrong to be too polite in Japan.
Don't be a 'Ghost'
Leaving a Japanese house without saying 'Ittekimasu' and hearing 'Itterasshai' is considered very lonely or rude. Even if you're in a rush, make eye contact!
Significado
A phrase said to someone leaving home or the workplace.
The 'Mase' Power
If you're unsure of the formality level in a shop or office, just add 'mase'. It's never wrong to be too polite in Japan.
Don't be a 'Ghost'
Leaving a Japanese house without saying 'Ittekimasu' and hearing 'Itterasshai' is considered very lonely or rude. Even if you're in a rush, make eye contact!
The Echo
In many households, the 'Itterasshai' is shouted from another room. You don't always have to be at the door, but you must respond.
Intonation Matters
A falling intonation can sound like 'Good riddance,' while a rising one sounds like 'Have fun!'
Teste-se
Your roommate says '{行|い}ってきます！' (Ittekimasu). What is the most natural response?
Roommate: {行|い}ってきます！ You: [ ? ]
'Itterasshai' is the standard response to 'Ittekimasu'.
Fill in the blank to make the greeting more polite for a business setting.
{行|い}ってらっしゃい[____]。
Adding 'mase' makes the phrase formal and appropriate for work or service.
Match the variation to the correct situation.
1. いってら / 2. {行|い}ってらっしゃいませ / 3. {行|い}ってらっしゃい
Slang for family, 'mase' for superiors, standard for equals/partners.
Complete the dialogue with the most caring response.
Child: {学校|がっこう}に{行|い}ってくるね！ Parent: [____]、{行|い}ってらっしゃい。
'Ki wo tsukete' (Take care) is the most common and natural addition to this phrase.
🎉 Pontuação: /4
Recursos visuais
Formality Levels
Formal
- • Itterasshaimase
Neutral
- • Itterasshai
Casual
- • Ittera
Perguntas frequentes
10 perguntasYes! It's very natural. It implies you want them to get home safely and see them again.
No, it's used in offices, schools, and shops too.
If there's a chance they aren't, use 'Sayonara' or 'Ki wo tsukete' instead.
You usually don't say anything back because you already said 'Ittekimasu' before they spoke. You can just wave or say 'Hai!'
It's not 'rude' among friends, but it's very 'slangy.' Avoid it with teachers or elders.
It's the 'te-form' of the verb 'to go' (iku), which connects it to the next verb.
Many Japanese people do! It's very common to say 'Itterasshai' to pets when you leave (or when they go to another room).
'Ki wo tsukete' means 'Be careful.' 'Itterasshai' is the ritual greeting. They are often used together.
The words are the same, but women might use a higher pitch or add a 'ne' at the end more often.
Yes, it's a staple of 'slice of life' anime to show a happy family routine.
Frases relacionadas
{行|い}ってきます
contrastI'm leaving (and coming back)
おかえりなさい
builds onWelcome home
{気|き}をつけて
similarTake care
さようなら
contrastGoodbye
お{元気|げんき}で
specialized formStay well
Onde usar
Leaving for school
Child: {行|い}ってきます！
Parent: {行|い}ってらっしゃい！{車|くるま}に{気|き}をつけてね。
Leaving the office for a meeting
Employee: では、ABC{社|しゃ}に{行|い}ってきます。
Colleague: {行|い}ってらっしゃいませ。
Leaving a traditional Japanese Inn (Ryokan)
Guest: ちょっと{散歩|さんぽ}に{行|い}ってきます。
Staff: {行|い}ってらっしゃいませ。お{気|き}をつけて。
Roommate going on a date
Roommate A: {行|い}ってくるね！ドキドキする。
Roommate B: いってらー！{頑張|がんば}ってね！
Partner going to the gym
Partner A: ジムに{行|い}ってくる。
Partner B: {行|い}ってらっしゃい。
Leaving a convenience store
Customer: (Leaves store)
Clerk: ありがとうございました！(Sometimes followed by a whispered 'Itterasshaimase')
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Think of 'EAT-A-RUSH-HI'. You're in a RUSH to leave, so I say 'HI' and tell you to go 'EAT' later when you come back.
Visual Association
Imagine a warm, glowing doorway. As someone steps out into the cold blue world, a golden thread stays attached to them, held by the person saying 'Itterasshai'.
Rhyme
Don't just fly, say 'Itterasshai'!
Story
A little bird named 'Itte' wants to fly away. His mother, 'Rasshai', stands at the nest. She knows he must go, but she wants him back. She shouts their names together: 'Itte-Rasshai!' to make sure he remembers to return.
Word Web
Desafio
Tomorrow morning, even if you live alone, say 'Itterasshai' to your keys or your bag as you leave (or to yourself in the mirror) to build the muscle memory of the sound.
In Other Languages
See you later / Have a good day
Japanese requires a specific response to 'I'm leaving,' whereas English is more flexible.
Que te vaya bien
Spanish is a subjunctive wish, Japanese is an honorific imperative.
À tout à l'heure
French is time-specific; Japanese is action-specific.
Bis nachher
German lacks the 'staying behind vs. leaving' linguistic binary.
في أمان الله (Fi aman Allah)
Arabic invokes God; Japanese invokes the act of returning.
慢走 (Mànzǒu)
Chinese focuses on the 'walking' (process), Japanese on the 'returning' (result).
다녀오세요 (Danyeoo-seyo)
The grammatical structure is nearly identical, reflecting shared cultural values.
Vá com Deus
Portuguese is a religious blessing; Japanese is a secular social ritual.
Easily Confused
Learners often swap the two because they both start with 'Itte'.
Remember: 'Kimasu' (from Ittekimasu) means 'I will come,' so it's the person leaving promising to return.
Both contain 'irasshai' and are used in shops.
'Irasshaimase' is 'Welcome' (they just arrived); 'Itterasshaimase' is 'Safe travels' (they are leaving).
Perguntas frequentes (10)
Yes! It's very natural. It implies you want them to get home safely and see them again.
No, it's used in offices, schools, and shops too.
If there's a chance they aren't, use 'Sayonara' or 'Ki wo tsukete' instead.
You usually don't say anything back because you already said 'Ittekimasu' before they spoke. You can just wave or say 'Hai!'
It's not 'rude' among friends, but it's very 'slangy.' Avoid it with teachers or elders.
It's the 'te-form' of the verb 'to go' (iku), which connects it to the next verb.
Many Japanese people do! It's very common to say 'Itterasshai' to pets when you leave (or when they go to another room).
'Ki wo tsukete' means 'Be careful.' 'Itterasshai' is the ritual greeting. They are often used together.
The words are the same, but women might use a higher pitch or add a 'ne' at the end more often.
Yes, it's a staple of 'slice of life' anime to show a happy family routine.
