Explore Words Kanji Grammar Guides

Copyright © 2026 Kotomora. All Rights Reserved.

Get the Kotomora apps for iOS and Android.

Explore Words Kanji Grammar Guides About Support Privacy

Copyright © 2026 Kotomora. All Rights Reserved.

もてなし (motenashi) Japanese meaning: hospitality | Kotomora

もてなし

も

て

な

し

Common word›JLPTN1›Freq.FrequencyTop 50,000

Meanings

1

hospitality; reception; entertainment

usually written using kana alone

Warm, welcoming treatment of guests, often involving food, drink, and attentive care.

彼かれの家

いえ

で

は

いつも

温あたた

かい

もてなし

を

受う

ける

。

We always receive warm hospitality at his house.

日本にほん旅りょ館かんのもてなしは本ほん当とうに素す晴ばらしい。

The hospitality at Japanese inns is truly wonderful.

2

light refreshment; treat; food and drink for guests

usually written using kana alone

Specifically the food and drink offered to guests as part of hospitality; often a small treat or snack.

お客きゃく様さまにちょっとしたもてなしを用よう意いした。
I prepared a little refreshment for the guests.
会かい議ぎの後あと、軽かるいもてなしがあります。
There will be light refreshments after the meeting.

Usage patterns

〈人ひと〉を手て厚あつくもてなすto give someone warm, generous hospitality
彼かれらは私わたしたちを手て厚あつくもてなしてくれた。
They gave us warm and generous hospitality.
〈人ひと〉にお茶ちゃとお菓か子しでもてなすto treat someone with tea and sweets
お客きゃく様さまをお茶ちゃとお菓か子しでもてなした。
We treated our guests to tea and sweets.
〈人ひと〉のもてなしを受うけるto receive someone's hospitality
旅たび先さきで村むら人びとたちの温あたたかいもてなしを受うけた。
On our trip we received the warm hospitality of the villagers.
心こころのこもったもてなしheartfelt, sincere hospitality
この旅りょ館かんは心こころのこもったもてなしで有ゆう名めいだ。
This inn is famous for its heartfelt hospitality.

Kanji

持hold, have
成turn into, become, get

Related words

歓かん待たい sense 1
歓待 is a more formal, written word for warmly welcoming a guest, while もてなし is the everyday term covering the same act of hospitality.
接せっ待たいN1sense 1
接待 specifically refers to entertaining clients or guests in a business context (often with dining or drinking), whereas もてなし is broader and used for any warm hospitality.
ご馳ち走そうN4sense 2
御馳走 focuses on the lavish meal or treat itself, while もてなし (in its second sense) covers any food or drink offered to guests, however simple.
振ふる舞まい
もてなし is the everyday word for hospitality shown to guests, while 振る舞い in this sense often implies a more generous, festive treat given to many people.

Opposites

冷れい遇ぐう sense 1
冷遇 means cold or neglectful treatment of a guest, the opposite of the warm welcome expressed by もてなし.

Politeness

おもてなし
もてなし is the plain noun for hospitality, while おもてなし adds the honorific お- prefix and carries a more formal, heartfelt nuance.

Word family

おもてなし
hospitality; reception; entertainment · light refreshment; treat; food and drink for guests

Written forms

もてなしUsage98%
Usually written in kana; the kanji forms 持て成し and 持てなし are rare.
持もて成なしUsage1%
rarely-used kanji form
Rare kanji form; not commonly used.
持もてなしUsage1%
rarely-used kanji form
Rare kanji form; not commonly used.

Etymology

Derived from the verb もてなす (to entertain, to treat hospitably), which itself comes from 持つ (to hold) + 成す (to make). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the word has long been associated with the concept of treating guests well.