Polite to Host
Cultural · Dining
You
お点前を頂戴します。ありがとうございます。
おてまえをちょうだいします。ありがとうございます。
I will now receive and enjoy the tea. Thank you so much.
Romaji: Otemae wo choudai shimasu. Arigatou gozaimasu. / Reply Romaji: Douzo, oagari kudasai.
Reply
どうぞ、お上がりください。
どうぞ、おあがりください。
Please go ahead and enjoy it.
Gesture & etiquette
Receive the bowl with both hands. Place it gently on your left palm and support the right side with your right hand. Bow slightly before drinking. Rotate the bowl clockwise twice before taking a sip. After finishing, wipe the drinking edge gently with the paper (kaishi) provided. Place it back down with the decorated face pointing toward the tea host.
In a Japanese tea ceremony (chado), 'otemae wo choudai shimasu' is said before receiving the tea bowl with both hands. Before drinking, rotate the bowl two turns clockwise to avoid drinking from the 'front' (the decorated face) — drinking from the front is considered disrespectful to the pottery. The bowl is then returned with the decorated face pointing away from you.