「Ojama shimasu」: 'Excuse me for intruding' - The subtle greeting when entering someone's house

You're invited to a Japanese friend's house. You ring the doorbell, the door opens, and what's the first thing you say? 「こんにちは」? Not wrong, but to be truly natural and 'Japanese-like', there's another phrase you definitely need to know.

That is... 「お邪魔します」(Ojama shimasu)! 👋

🕵️‍♂️ Deciphering the meaning

If you translate it literally, you'll be a little surprised:

• 邪魔 (jama): obstruction, nuisance.
• します (shimasu): to do, to perform.

So,「お邪魔します」 literally means 'I'm about to be a nuisance!' or 'I'm going to be an obstruction!'.

Sounds strange, right? Why say something so negative when entering someone's house? 🤔

🙏 The cultural nuance behind the greeting

This is a very subtle cultural aspect of the Japanese, expressing humility and respect for the other person. When you say this, you are implicitly expressing that:

• Respect for private space: 'I know I am entering your private space.'
• Humility: 'Thank you for having me, I apologize in advance for any disruption my presence may cause.'

This is not a real apology, but a ritualistic greeting that shows you are a thoughtful and considerate person.

🗣️ How to use it in practice

It's extremely simple:

1. When entering the house: As soon as you step through the door, bow slightly and say:

   • You:「お邪魔します」(Ojama shimasu)
   • The host (will usually reply):「どうぞ、上がってください」(Dōzo, agatte kudasai - Please come in) or simply「どうぞどうぞ」(Dōzo dōzo - Please, please).

2. When leaving: To complete the 'ritual' perfectly, when you leave, you will use the past tense:

   • You:「お邪魔しました」(Ojama shimashita - Thank you for letting me intrude).

Remembering both the greeting when you arrive and when you leave will show that you truly understand the culture and leave a very good impression.

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So from now on, instead of just saying こんにちは, you have the ultimate 'weapon' to enter a Japanese person's house like a true native. Try it next time, I guarantee you'll score full points! 👍