どうぞ
dōzo[do̞ːzo̞]
In Japanese, "here you are" can be expressed as どうぞ (dōzo). Wiktionary also lists はい (hai).
Meaning: said when handing something over (phrase)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| どうぞ | dōzo | [do̞ːzo̞] (narrow) |
| はい | hai | [ha̠i] (narrow) |
These phrases are used when handing an object to someone or inviting them to take something. どうぞ can mean "here you are", "please" or "go ahead". It can also be used alone to mean "please go ahead" or "after you" in contexts where you are not physically handing an object to someone. In formal settings, such as in a restaurant, you might encounter the phrase どうぞお召し上がりください to mean "please enjoy (your meal)".
Which one should you use?
The phrase はい、どうぞ is the most natural and common way to say "here you are" when handing an object to someone. While どうぞ is a polite way to emphasize the act of offering or granting permission to take an item, はい can be used as a brief, more casual acknowledgment when handing something over.
How do you pronounce it?
dōzo
Did you know?
- In Japanese culture, the gesture of handing something over with はい、どうぞ is almost always performed with both hands to show respect to the receiver.
- The phrase どうぞ is built from the word 'how' or 'anyhow', combining it with an emphatic particle to essentially mean 'by any means' or 'please do so'.
Examples in context
- はい、どうぞ。Here you are.This sentence shows the use of どうぞ.Tatoeba #10918319 by small_snow, translation #2649240 by CK
- 「塩を取って下さい」「はい、どうぞ」"Pass me the salt, please." "Here you are."This sentence shows how どうぞ is used when someone asks for an object like salt.Tatoeba #5076 by bunbuku, translation #1673 by CK
- 「どうぞ」と乗務員が言います。"Here you are," the steward says.This sentence shows a steward using どうぞ.Tatoeba #236500 by mookeee, translation #402303 by blay_paul
- 4 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Kenta hands a gift to Yui.
- 健太 Kenta結衣さん、これ、どうぞ。Yui-san, kore, douzo.Yui, here you are.
- 結衣 Yuiわあ、ありがとうございます！Waa, arigatou gozaimasu!Wow, thank you very much!
- 健太 Kenta気に入ってくれるといいのですが。Ki ni itte kureru to ii no desu ga.I hope you like it.
- 結衣 Yui大切にしますね。Taisetsu ni shimasu ne.I will cherish it.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “here you are” translations and entries どうぞ, はい, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries どうぞ, はい, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
