Go ahead and help yourself
Conversation phrases, Stage 2chunk 71 of 71Greetings, thanks and sorry
Lets you put a guest or friend at ease.
- douzo douzogo ahead, please; after you
- yokattara douzohelp yourself if you like; please have some
- enryo shinaidedon't be shy; go ahead
- raku ni shitemake yourself comfortable; relax
- osaki ni douzoafter you; go ahead
Mix-ups enryo shinaide (don't hold back) is not enryo shite okimasu (I'll pass).
douzo douzo
go ahead, please; after you
Warmly lets someone go first, sit down or take something; doubling it makes it eager.
A single douzo is the everyday here you go when handing something over.
douzo douzo, saki ni haitte.
Go ahead, you go in first.
どうぞどうぞ、先に入って。
douzo douzo, saki ni haitte kudasai.
Please, go on in first.
どうぞどうぞ、先に入ってください。
Written どうぞどうぞWho you say it and hear itHeard 24× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitles
yokattara douzo
help yourself if you like; please have some
Offers food, a seat or a spare item without pressure, e.g. passing snacks round at work; answer arigatou, itadakimasu.
okashi katte kita kara, yokattara douzo.
I bought some snacks, help yourselves.
お菓子買ってきたから、よかったらどうぞ。
omiyage desu. yokattara douzo.
It's a little souvenir. Please have some.
お土産です。よかったらどうぞ。
Written よかったらどうぞWho you say it and hear itHeard 4× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitles
enryo shinaide
polite goenryo naku
don't be shy; go ahead
A host or friend urging you to eat, sit or ask for something; accept with jaa, enryo naku.
Enryo is holding back out of politeness; guests decline once, so hosts insist.
takusan aru kara, enryo shinaide tabete.
There's plenty, so don't be shy, eat up.
たくさんあるから、遠慮しないで食べて。
takusan arimasu kara, goenryo naku douzo.
There's plenty, so please help yourself.
たくさんありますから、ご遠慮なくどうぞ。
Written 遠慮しないで · えんりょしないで · ご遠慮なくWho you say it and hear itHeard 64× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitles
raku ni shite
polite douzo oraku ni
make yourself comfortable; relax
A host tells a guest to sit however they like, often to someone kneeling formally.
Doctors say it too: raku ni shite kudasai (relax).
ashi kuzushite, raku ni shite ne.
Stretch your legs out, make yourself comfortable.
足崩して、楽にしてね。
douzo oraku ni. ocha iremasu ne.
Please, make yourself comfortable. I'll make some tea.
どうぞお楽に。お茶入れますね。
Written 楽にして · らくにして · どうぞお楽にWho said to youHeard 142× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitles
osaki ni douzo
after you; go ahead
Letting someone go first at a door, lift or till; they answer sumimasen or doumo.
A host may also offer you the bath first with it.
watashi wa ato de ii kara, osaki ni douzo.
I can go later, so go ahead.
私は後でいいから、お先にどうぞ。
watashi wa ato de daijoubu desu kara, osaki ni douzo.
I'm fine going later, so please go ahead.
私は後で大丈夫ですから、お先にどうぞ。
Written お先にどうぞ · おさきにどうぞWho you say it and hear itHeard 80× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitles