The Meaning of ousetsu [応接] In Japanese

応接
おうせつ
Romaji: ousetsu N3

What does 応接 mean?

Translation and Meaning

reception, reception room, receiving guests

Definition

応接 refers to the formal act or place of receiving visitors; it denotes a reception in which guests are greeted and entertained, and is commonly used in offices, hotels, and official settings.

Type

noun (名詞)

Stroke Order

Meanings

  • The formal reception of visitors or clients in a business or official context.
  • The physical space used for receiving guests, typically a reception room or lounge in an office or hotel.
  • The act of hosting or entertaining guests, often expressed with 応接する in formal language.

Etymology

応 corresponds to responding or complying, 接 corresponds to touching, connecting, or receiving; the compound uses the on’yomi readings おう and せつ to yield ousetsu, a Sino-Japanese construction rather than a native development.

Composition

  • 応: respond, comply, answer
  • 接: touch, connect, receive

Usage

Used in formal and business contexts to describe the act or space of receiving visitors; common phrases include 応接室 for a reception room and 応接を設ける to arrange such a reception; it’s less common in casual speech and tends to appear in corporate, hotel, or official settings.
💡 Tips
Mnemonic: picture a doorbell signaling 応 to answer and a reception desk welcoming guests with 接; together they form the concept of a formal reception.

Variations

  • 接待 (settai) — hosting guests or hospitality
  • 応対 (outai) — handling or responding to visitors
  • 応接室/応接間 (ousetsushitsu/ousetsuma) — variants referring to a reception room

Example Phrases

  • 応接室 の 椅子に 座る 来客を 迎える
    Ousetsushitsu no isu ni suwaru raikyaku o mukaeru
    Greet the guests who are sitting on the chair in the reception room.
    Lista:
    • 応接室 (ousetsushitsu) – reception room
    • の (no) – of
    • 椅子に (isu ni) – to the chair
    • 座る (suwaru) – sit
    • 来客を (raikyaku o) – guests (object marker)
    • 迎える (mukaeru) – greet
    The sentence uses 「応接室」 to indicate the reception area, setting the scene for greeting guests.
応接