どうぞ

どうぞ
adverb
please, here you are
politegreeting
1. please (go ahead)
Used when offering or inviting someone to do something.
どうぞお入(はい)りください。
Please come in.
どうぞ座(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.
どうぞお先(さき)に。
Please go ahead.
どうぞよろしくお願(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."
「お茶(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.
「落(お)としましたよ。」「どうぞ。」
"You dropped this." "Here you go."
おかしをどうぞ。好(す)きなのを取(と)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.

Functions

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

Common expressions

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)

Usage

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

Related Words

Compare: どうか (emphatic, pleading)
Compare: ぜひ (by all means)
Related: どうも (thanks; the usual reply)
Related: ください (please (request))
Compare: 何卒(なにとぞ) (please)
Compare: お先(さき)に (excuse me for going first)
Related: はい、どうぞ (here you are)
basic
Added 2026.1.11 18:50 · Revised 2026.9.2 12:02
02500/02920_douzo