召し上がってください
meshagatte kudasai
The English phrase 'please eat' can be said in Japanese as 召し上がってください (meshagatte kudasai).
This phrase is used as a polite invitation or request for someone to begin eating a meal. To make the invitation sound even more welcoming and gracious, you can add どうぞ to the beginning, resulting in どうぞ召し上がってください.
Which one should you use?
While 召し上がってください is an honorific form used specifically for guests, the standard polite form 食べてください (tabete kudasai) is used in more casual or neutral settings.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
召し上がってください is a polite and respectful way to invite someone to eat, making it suitable for guests or superiors. In contrast, the informal way to say 'please eat' is Tabete.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase is constructed using the honorific verb 召し上がる followed by the polite request form ください.
How do you pronounce it?
meshagatte kudasai
Did you know?
- The word 召し上がる can also be used to invite someone to drink. In this honorific form, the same word covers both 'eating' and 'drinking', unlike the standard verb 食べる which only means 'eat'.
- The verb 召し上がる is a 'keigo' honorific that replaces the standard word for 'eat' entirely. Unlike many languages that just add a polite prefix, Japanese uses a completely different word to elevate the status of the person eating.
- While 召し上がってください is perfect for guests, using it toward a close friend or family member can actually feel 'cold' or overly distant. In a home setting, sticking to the more casual 食べて (tabete) shows a closer, warmer relationship.
Examples in context
- どうぞ召し上がってください。Please eat.Tatoeba #9511233 by small_snow, translation #6358715 by CK
- ケーキを召し上がってください。Please eat some cake.This sentence shows how to use 召し上がってください when offering a specific item like cake.Tatoeba #10640335 by bunbuku, translation #1008846 by AOCinJAPAN
- 温かいうちに召し上がってください。Atatakai uchi ni meshiagatte kudasai.Please eat it while it is still warm.
Example conversation
Yota serves a homemade dish to Yui at home.
- 陽太 Yota料理ができました。召し上がってください。Ryori ga dekimashita. Meshiagatte kudasai.The food is ready. Please eat.
- 結衣 Yuiわあ、美味しそうですね！Waa, oishisou desu ne!Wow, it looks delicious!
- 陽太 Yotaたくさん作りましたから、遠慮しないでください。Takusan tsukurimashita kara, enryo shinaide kudasai.I made a lot, so please don't hold back.
- 結衣 Yuiありがとうございます。いただきます。Arigatou gozaimasu. Itadakimasu.Thank you. I will eat now.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
