出迎え（でむかえ、demukae）
- meeting

The Japanese word 出迎え [出迎え] means "to meet," "to greet," or "to welcome" someone, typically upon their arrival. It refers to the act of going to a place, such as an airport, station, or entrance, to meet a person who is arriving. It can also refer to the action of welcoming someone in other contexts. It implies a sense of hospitality and anticipation.

⚫︎空港まで友達の出迎えに行った。 Translation: I went to the airport to meet my friend. ⚫︎駅で家族の出迎えを待っていた。 Translation: I was waiting at the station to meet my family. ⚫︎お客様の出迎えは重要です。 Translation: Welcoming customers is important.

⚫︎You would use 出迎え [出迎え] in situations where you are going to greet someone who is arriving. ⚫︎It is commonly used in travel, when picking someone up from a train station or airport, or when receiving guests at your home or a business. ⚫︎It can also be used figuratively to describe the welcome given to a new idea or trend.

⚫︎The word 出迎え [出迎え] is written with the kanji 出 (de, meaning "to come out" or "to exit") and 迎 (muka, meaning "to welcome" or "to meet"), followed by the hiragana え (e) which indicates a noun. ⚫︎It's typically written in hiragana as でむかえ. ⚫︎The okurigana (suffix hiragana) is standard.

⚫︎迎え (mukae) - This is a more general term for "meeting" or "picking up" someone. ⚫︎歓迎 (kangei) - This word means "welcome" or "reception," and emphasizes the warm greeting. ⚫︎応対 (outai) - This means "dealing with" or "responding to," and can be used in the context of welcoming guests or customers.

⚫︎There isn't a single direct antonym for 出迎え [出迎え], but words related to departure or seeing someone off could be considered opposites in concept. ⚫︎見送り (miokuri) - Saying goodbye; seeing someone off.

両親を空港に出迎え [出迎え] に行った。 ・Translation: I went to the airport to meet my parents. ・Explanation: This sentence clearly shows the action of going to the airport specifically to greet and welcome the parents.

新入社員の出迎え [出迎え] 準備をしています。 ・Translation: We are preparing to welcome the new employees. ・Explanation: This sentence describes preparations to greet new employees, emphasizing the reception and the welcoming aspect.

⚫︎The word is formed from the verb 迎える (mukaeru), which means "to meet" or "to welcome". ⚫︎The prefix 出 (de) adds the meaning of "coming out" or "going out" to meet someone.