どうぞ召し上がれ
dōzo meshiagare
In Japanese, the phrase for "enjoy food" is どうぞ召し上がれ (dōzo meshiagare).
どうぞ召し上がれ is a polite expression used by the person providing or serving the food to tell the person receiving it to start eating and enjoy their meal. It translates to "please enjoy your meal."
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase consists of どうぞ, meaning "please" and 召し上がれ, which is the imperative form of the honorific verb meshiagaru (to eat or drink).
Which one should you use?
There is a distinction between what the host and the guest say. While the host says どうぞ召し上がれ to the guest, the guest says いただきます (I humbly receive this food) to the host before starting the meal.
How do you pronounce it?
dōzo meshiagare
When do people say it?
After finishing a meal, it is customary to express appreciation by saying ごちそうさま, which is equivalent to saying "thank you for the meal."
Did you know?
- If a person is eating alone, they still say いただきます and ごちそうさま to the empty room to acknowledge the food's origin.
- The verb within 召し上がれ belongs to a class of words that can never be used to describe your own actions. You must never use it to say 'I am eating' to avoid sounding incredibly conceited.
- The phrase どうぞ召し上がれ is rarely used in a restaurant by servers, who instead use different honorific forms to avoid sounding like they are commanding the customer.
Examples in context
- 友人が作ってくれた料理を食べ終わった後、私は「ごちそうさま」と言いました。After finishing the meal my friend prepared, I said "thank you for the meal."
- この寿司の酢飯の味が絶品ですね。The taste of the sushi rice in this dish is exceptional.
- どうぞ召し上がれ。douzo meshiagare.Please, enjoy your meal.
- さあ、どうぞ召し上がれ。saa, douzo meshiagare.Come, please enjoy the food.
- 温かいうちに、どうぞ召し上がれ。atatakai uchi ni, douzo meshiagare.Please enjoy it while it's hot.
Example conversation
Youta serves dinner to Himari.
- 陽太 Yota今日の夕飯はカレーだよ。どうぞ召し上がれ。Kyou no yuuhan wa karee dayo. Douzo meshiagare.Tonight's dinner is curry. Please enjoy your meal.
- 陽葵 Himariわあ、おいしそう！いただきます。Waa, oishisou! Itadakimasu.Wow, it looks delicious! Let's eat.
- 陽太 Yota口に合うといいんだけど。Kuchi ni au to ii ndakedo.I hope it suits your taste.
- 陽葵 Himariすごくおいしいよ、陽太！Sugoku oishii yo, Youta!It's very delicious, Youta!
