Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 座ってください | suwatte kudasai |
| 座りなさい | suwarinasai |
| 座れ | suware |
The various forms of this phrase range from polite requests to blunt commands. While 座ってください is a standard polite request, in very formal business settings or when hosting guests, it is more natural to use どうぞ、お掛けください (please have a seat). You can also use the polite form おかけください, which literally translates to 'please have a seat'. Adding どうぞ to the beginning of おかけください makes the phrase even more polite.
What does it mean word for word?
The form 座ってください is composed of 座って, which is the te-form of the verb 座る (to sit), connected to the polite request kudasai.
Which one should you use?
The forms differ significantly in tone: 座ってください is a standard polite request, while 座りなさい is an authoritative command often used by parents to children or teachers to students. The form 座れ is an imperative, serving as a blunt and forceful command that can sound aggressive or rude in most social situations. In informal contexts where the meaning is clear, you may simply use the shortened form 座って.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the Kansai region, people say おかけやす instead of okake kudasai or suwatte kudasai to mean 'please sit down.'
How does it change in a sentence?
The form 座ってください uses the te-form of the verb, 座って, to connect the action of sitting to the polite request kudasai.
How do you pronounce it?
suwatte kudasai
Did you know?
- The verb 座る (to sit) describes the action of lowering one's body, but the more formal お掛けください uses a verb that means 'to hang' or 'to suspend'.
- In a traditional tatami room, 座ってください usually means sitting on the floor in the seiza style, with knees bent and feet tucked under the hips.
- While 座ってください is a polite request, saying it to a superior in a business setting can actually be seen as an assertion of power because you are directing their movement.
Examples in context
- ちょっと座ってください。Please sit down for a minute.This sentence is useful for practicing the polite form 座ってください.Tatoeba #11263594 by small_snow, translation #5151940 by AlanF_US
- こちらに座ってください。Kochira ni suwatte kudasai.Please sit here.
- 疲れたら、座ってください。Tsukaretara, suwatte kudasai.Please sit down if you are tired.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Ren invites Yui to sit in a cafe.
- 蓮 Ren結衣さん、どうぞ座ってください。Yui-san, douzo suwatte kudasai.Yui, please sit down.
- 結衣 Yuiありがとうございます。失礼します。Arigatou gozaimasu. Shitsurei shimasu.Thank you. Excuse me.
- 蓮 Ren荷物をそこに置いてください。Nimotsu o soko ni oite kudasai.Please put your bag there.
- 結衣 Yuiはい、ありがとうございます。Hai, arigatou gozaimasu.Okay, thank you.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “please sit down” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
