Yojijukugo
Japanese meaning of 千客万来
Reading:
Voice sample:
せんきゃくばんらい (senkyaku banrai)
English Translation:
A constant stream of visitors or customers
Meaning & Cultural Context
Meaning:
An endless stream of patrons; robust foot traffic and commercial vitality.
日本語で読む
ひっきりなしの来客で賑わうこと。商売繁盛・集客力の高さ。
Cultural Context:
Seen on shop banners, shrine talismans, and tourism copy to invoke prosperity and welcome.
日本語で読む
店頭旗・神札・観光コピーで繁盛と招福を祈願・表象する決まり文句。
Grammar & Learning Points
Grammar Point
• Noun phrase with “の店” or “の盛況” to describe a place attracting many visitors (“千客万来の温泉地”).<br>• Common in tourism and business promotion.
日本語で読む
• 多くの客が絶えず訪れる様子を表す「〜の店」「〜の盛況」（例：「千客万来の温泉地」）。<br>• 観光や商業の宣伝で使われる。
Trap for English Speakers
Could be interpreted as a fixed number, but it’s an idiomatic exaggeration meaning “endless visitors.”
日本語で読む
特定の人数ではなく、客が途切れず訪れる様子を誇張して表す点に注意。
Example
Example 1Basic Example
祭りの日は千客万来で賑わった。
The festival day was bustling with a constant stream of visitors.
Example 2Applied Example
新しく開店した喫茶店は、まるで漫画の世界のように千客万来の賑わいだった。
The newly opened café was bustling like a scene from a manga, with a constant stream of customers.
Quick check
Meaning
What does 「千客万来」 mean?