どうぞ

どうぞ
adverb
please, here you are
1. please (go ahead)
Used when offering or inviting someone to do something.
どうぞお(はい)りください。
Please come in.
どうぞ(すわ)ってください。
Please have a seat.
どうぞお使(つか)いください。
Please use it.
どうぞごゆっくり。
Please take your time.
どうぞお(さき)に。
Please go ahead.
どうぞよろしくお(ねが)いします。
Please be kind to me / Nice to meet you.
2. here you are
Said when handing something to someone.
「これ、お土産(みやげ)です。」「どうぞ。」
"This is a souvenir." "Here you are."
「お(ちゃ)です。」「どうぞ。」
"Here's some tea." "Here you are."
コーヒーをどうぞ。
Here's your coffee.
()としましたよ。」「どうぞ。」
"You dropped this." "Here you go."
おかしをどうぞ。()きなのを()ってください。
Here, have some sweets. Please take whichever you like.

どうぞ is a polite expression for inviting, offering, or giving permission.

TWO MAIN USES:
1. Invitation/permission: "please go ahead"
2. Offering: "here you are"

COMMON EXPRESSIONS:

  • どうぞお(はい)りください: Please come in
  • どうぞお(さき)に: Please go ahead (before me)
  • どうぞよろしくお(ねが)いします: Nice to meet you / Please treat me well
  • どうぞごゆっくり: Please take your time
  • どうぞお使(つか)いください: Please feel free to use it

CONTRAST WITH SIMILAR WORDS:

  • どうぞ: polite invitation/offer
  • どうか: emphatic, pleading (please, I beg you)
  • ぜひ: by all means, definitely (strong recommendation)

NOTE:
When handing something to someone, どうぞ alone is sufficient—no verb needed.