ごゆっくりどうぞ
goyukkuri dōzo
To say "enjoy your drink" in Japanese, you say ごゆっくりどうぞ (goyukkuri dōzo).
The phrase ごゆっくりどうぞ is a polite expression used to tell someone to take their time and relax while having a beverage. It is commonly used by service staff in restaurants or cafes when serving a drink or food to a customer.
Which one should you use?
While ごゆっくりどうぞ focuses on taking one's time, if you want to express a deeper sense of enjoyment, you can use the formal phrase ご堪能ください, which means "please savor".
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
ごゆっくりどうぞ is a polite expression. The use of the honorific prefix 'go' makes it suitable for use with customers or superiors. For a formal way to say "please eat/drink", you can use どうぞ、召し上がってください. In informal settings among friends and family, you can say 飲んでね to mean "drink up".
How do you pronounce it?
goyukkuri dōzo
When do people say it?
In Japanese culture, it is common to show respect by holding your glass with both hands when someone offers you a drink.
Did you know?
- In many Japanese restaurants, if a server says ごゆっくりどうぞ after placing your drink, it is often a signal that they will not disturb you again for a while.
- The word ゆっくり is an onomatopoeic expression that mimics the feeling of a slow, steady pace.
- In a professional setting, a server might say ごゆっくりどうぞ while slightly bowing, as the phrase is part of a choreographed sequence of service called 'omotenashi'.
Examples in context
- コーヒー、ごゆっくりどうぞ。Kōhī, go yukkuri dōzo.Please enjoy your coffee at your leisure.
- お茶をご用意しました。ごゆっくりどうぞ。Ocha o goyōi shimashita. Go yukkuri dōzo.I have prepared some tea. Please enjoy it.
- 冷たい飲み物をごゆっくりどうぞ。Tsumetai nomimono o go yukkuri dōzo.Please enjoy your cold drink at your own pace.
Example conversation
A waiter serves a drink to a customer in a cafe.
- 美咲 Misakiこちら、温かい紅茶です。Kochira, atatakai kōcha desu.Here is your warm black tea.
- 健太 Kentaありがとうございます。Arigatō gozaimasu.Thank you very much.
- 美咲 Misakiごゆっくりどうぞ。Go yukkuri dōzo.Please enjoy your drink at your leisure.
- 健太 Kentaはい、いただきます。Hai, itadakimasu.Yes, thank you (I will eat/drink).
