遠 慮(えんりょ)

えんりょ

noun

reserve; restraint; hesitation

1. reserve, restraint, holding back

The act of refraining from something out of politeness or consideration.

ご遠慮(えんりょ)なくどうぞ。

Please don't hold back. / Please help yourself.

Common polite expression

遠慮(えんりょ)しないで食(た)べてください。

Please eat without holding back.

タバコはご遠慮(えんりょ)ください。

Please refrain from smoking.

Polite prohibition

2. declining (politely), hesitation

Politely refusing or abstaining from something.

遠慮(えんりょ)します。

I'll pass. / I'll decline.

Polite refusal

お酒(さけ)は遠慮(えんりょ)しておきます。

I'll pass on the alcohol.

せっかくですが、今日(きょう)は遠慮(えんりょ)させていただきます。

Thank you for the offer, but I'll have to decline today.

Formal way of declining

遠慮(えんりょ) expresses the Japanese cultural concept of holding back out of politeness or consideration.

Verb usage: 遠慮(えんりょ)する - to hold back, to refrain, to decline

Common expressions

ご遠慮(えんりょ)なく: without holding back, feel free
ご遠慮(えんりょ)ください: please refrain (polite prohibition)
遠慮(えんりょ)します: I'll decline (polite refusal)
遠慮(えんりょ)しないで: don't hold back

Cultural note: 遠慮(えんりょ) reflects the Japanese value of being considerate and not imposing on others. Over-eating, speaking too much, or asking for favors without 遠慮(えんりょ) can be seen as impolite.

general

Added 2026.1.8 21:31 · Revised 2026.9.4 21:29

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