迎(むか)える

むかえる
verb (ichidan)
to welcome, to greet
1. to welcome, to greet
To receive someone who is arriving, especially as a host.
お客(きゃく)さんを迎(むか)える。
Welcome guests.
笑顔(えがお)でお客(きゃく)さんを迎(むか)えた。
I greeted the guests with a smile.
温(あたた)かく迎(むか)えてくれた。
They gave me a warm welcome.
2. to meet, to pick up
To go somewhere to meet someone and bring them back.
駅(えき)まで迎(むか)えに行(い)く。
Go to the station to pick someone up.
迎(むか)えに行(い)く = go to pick up
空港(くうこう)まで迎(むか)えに来(き)てくれた。
They came to pick me up at the airport.
子供(こども)を学校(がっこう)に迎(むか)えに行(い)く。
Go to pick up the child from school.
3. to reach, to enter (a time/state)
To arrive at a certain time, age, or stage.
新年(しんねん)を迎(むか)える。
Welcome the new year.
春(はる)を迎(むか)えた。
Spring has arrived.
会社(かいしゃ)は創立(そうりつ)10周年(しゅうねん)を迎(むか)えた。
The company reached its 10th anniversary.

TRANSITIVITY: 他動詞(たどうし) (transitive). Pattern: Xを迎(むか)える (welcome X).

ASPECT: ている indicates completed action or state. 迎(むか)えている = 'has welcomed' or 'is welcoming.'

COMMON PATTERNS:

  • お客(きゃく)さんを迎(むか)える (welcome guests)
  • 迎(むか)えに行(い)く (go to pick up)
  • 迎(むか)えに来(く)る (come to pick up)
  • 新年(しんねん)を迎(むか)える (welcome the new year)
  • 誕生日(たんじょうび)を迎(むか)える (reach one's birthday)
  • 危機(きき)を迎(むか)える (face a crisis)

RELATED:

  • お迎(むか)え (pickup, welcoming—noun, polite)
  • 出迎(でむか)え (going out to meet—noun)
general
Added 2026.1.8 21:11 · Revised 2026.3.7 8:21
01000/01193_mukaeru