どうぞ
dōzo[do̞ːzo̞]
The English phrase "please do" is translated into Japanese as どうぞ (dōzo).
どうぞ is a polite expression used to give someone permission, offer something or encourage them to proceed with an action.
Which one should you use?
In English, "please" is often used when making a request, such as "Please give me that." In contrast, どうぞ is used when the speaker is granting a request or offering something, such as when you say "Please, take it."
How do you pronounce it?
dōzo
Did you know?
- When someone says どうぞ to let you enter a room first, it is customary to respond with 失礼します which means 'I am going to be rude'.
- The particle ぞ in どうぞ is traditionally an emphatic, masculine-sounding particle that adds a sense of strong assertion or determination to a sentence.
- If you are offered a seat and say どうぞ back to the other person, you are engaging in a polite 'battle' of humility where both people insist the other go first.
Examples in context
- どうぞ、お入りください。Please, come in.
- お菓子をどうぞ。Okashi o dōzo.Please, have some sweets.
- こちらへどうぞ。Kochira e dōzo.This way, please.
Example conversation
Yota is offering Hiyori a piece of cake.
- 陽葵 Himariこれ、食べてもいいですか？Kore, tabete mo ii desu ka?May I eat this?
- 陽太 Yotaはい、どうぞ。Hai, dōzo.Yes, please do.
- 陽葵 Himariありがとうございます！Arigatō gozaimasu!Thank you very much!
- 陽太 Yotaゆっくり食べてね。Yukkuri tabete ne.Enjoy it.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry どうぞ, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries どうぞ, CC BY-SA 4.0.
