When you leave someone's home in Japan, a few set phrases do most of the work. In this workshop you will practice thanking your host, saying you would like to meet again, and responding when someone thanks you. You will use only the phrases from the recordings, so you can speak with confidence even as a beginner. You can play both roles with the audio, but there is no automatic assessment, so check your answers against the models given.
Thanking Your Host as You Leave
The core phrase for leaving a home is «お邪魔しました。» (o-jama shimashita). It literally means something like 'I intruded,' but in everyday use it is a warm way to say 'Thank you for having me.' A more general polite thank-you is «今日はありがとうございました。» (kyou wa arigatou gozaimashita), meaning 'Thank you for today.' You can use it with a friend's parents, a coworker, or someone you met for the first time. If you want to be a little warmer, «今日は本当にありがとうございました。» (kyou wa hontou ni arigatou gozaimashita) means 'Thank you so much for today.' These are all safe, polite choices when you are the guest and you are about to leave.
Suggesting Another Meeting
After thanking your host, you can show that you enjoyed the visit by suggesting another meeting. «また誘ってください。» (mata sasotte kudasai) means 'Please invite me again.' It is polite and friendly, and it works well when your host planned the gathering. If several people were present and you want to include everyone, «また集まりましょう。» (mata atsumarimashou) means 'Let's get together again.' Both phrases are suggestions, not demands, so they fit naturally at the end of a visit. You can combine them with a thank-you: thank your host first, then add one of these phrases.
Understanding the Host's Reply
When you thank your host, they may reply with «いいえ、こちらこそ。また来てくださいね。» (iie, kochira koso. mata kite kudasai ne). This means 'No, thank you. Please come again.' The first part, «こちらこそ», politely returns the thanks. The second part, «また来てくださいね», is an invitation to come again. As you leave, you may also hear «気をつけて帰ってね。» (ki o tsukete kaette ne), which means 'Get home safely.' This is a friendly send-off, not a question. A natural response is to thank your host again and say you will see them soon, using the phrases you have already learned.
Listen once, then say the phrase yourself. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Checking available voices…
お邪魔しました。
Thank you for having me. / Sorry for intruding.
o-jama shimashita
今日はありがとうございました。
Thank you for today.
kyou wa arigatou gozaimashita
また誘ってください。
Please invite me again.
mata sasotte kudasai
また集まりましょう。
Let's get together again.
mata atsumarimashou
Read one side aloud, then answer in your own words. The goal is to make the exchange yours.
今日は本当にありがとうございました。
Thank you so much for today.いいえ、こちらこそ。また来てくださいね。
No, thank you. Please come again.はい、また誘ってください。お邪魔しました。
Yes, please invite me again. Thank you for having me.気をつけて帰ってね。
Get home safely.Your turn
Try each prompt out loud. Choose a guided start, the full sequence, or a challenge pass after your first attempt.
Thank Your Host and Say Goodbye
You are a guest leaving a friend's home. Your host is at the door. You want to thank them politely and say you would like to be invited again.
Your task: Thank your host with «今日はありがとうございました。» — “Thank you for today.” Then say «また誘ってください。» — “Please invite me again.” Say both aloud, then hide the model and try again. These two lines are your self-check for the two requested meanings.
Choose the Right Reply
You are leaving a home after a group gathering. Your host says «気をつけて帰ってね。» You want to respond politely and warmly.
Your task: Choose a suitable response, then say it aloud. Option 1: «お邪魔しました。» Option 2: «また集まりましょう。» Option 3: «今日はありがとうございました。» There can be more than one appropriate choice: options 1 and 3 thank the host; option 2 suggests meeting as a group again.
Recall the Full Exchange
You are practicing both roles in a short goodbye exchange. One person is the guest leaving, and the other is the host seeing them off.
Your task: Say the guest's lines and the host's lines in order, using the recorded exchange as a model. Guest: thank the host for today, then ask to be invited again and say 'Thank you for having me.' Host: return the thanks, invite the guest to come again, and say 'Get home safely.' Then check your answer.
Common questions
Can I use «お邪魔しました。» with anyone?
It is a standard polite phrase for leaving someone's home, so it works in many situations. It literally means 'I intruded,' but it functions as a warm thank-you for hosting. If you are unsure, you can also use «今日はありがとうございました。», which is a safe polite thank-you for today.
What should I say when my host says «気をつけて帰ってね。»?
This means 'Get home safely.' It is a friendly send-off, so you can reply with a thank-you such as «今日はありがとうございました。» or «お邪魔しました。» You can also add «また誘ってください。» if you would like to be invited again. Keep your reply polite and warm.
Sources and further reading
- japanese: saying goodbye after visitChecked September 2026
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