夕食を楽しんでください
yūshoku o tanoshinde kudasai
The English phrase "enjoy your dinner" is translated into Japanese as 夕食を楽しんでください (yūshoku o tanoshinde kudasai).
This phrase is used to express a polite wish for someone to have a pleasant experience while eating their evening meal.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase consists of 夕食 (yūshoku), which literally means "evening meal".
How does it change in a sentence?
Adding ください (kudasai) to the te-form of a verb turns the phrase into a polite request or wish.
How do you pronounce it?
yūshoku o tanoshinde kudasai
Did you know?
- In Japan, the most common way to 'start' a meal is not by wishing others enjoyment, but by saying いただきます (itadakimasu). This phrase expresses gratitude to the plants, animals, and the person who prepared the food, effectively acknowledging the life given to create the meal.
- In a professional restaurant setting, staff will not tell you to 'enjoy your meal' using this phrase. They typically say ごゆっくりどうぞ (go-yukkuri dōzo), which literally means 'please take your time'.
- The word 夕食 (yūshoku) contains the character for 'evening' 夕, which is a pictograph representing the moon rising over the horizon.
Example conversation
Ren is leaving the restaurant while Yui is about to start eating.
- 蓮 Renもう行くね。夕食を楽しんでください。mou iku ne. yuushoku o tanoshinde kudasai.I'm leaving now. Enjoy your dinner.
- 結衣 Yuiありがとう、蓮さん。arigatou, ren-san.Thank you, Ren.
- 蓮 Renまた明日ね。mata ashita ne.See you tomorrow.
- 結衣 Yuiうん、また明日！un, mata ashita!Yeah, see you tomorrow!
