Polite to Host
Cultural · Dining
遠慮なくどうぞ。お気に召したものをご自由にお取りください。 — Please help yourself without any hesitation. Feel free to take whatever you like. (Cultural · Dining, Polite to Host, JLPT N4)
You
遠慮なくどうぞ。お気に召したものをご自由にお取りください。
えんりょなくどうぞ。おきにめしたものをごじゆうにおとりください。
Please help yourself without any hesitation. Feel free to take whatever you like.
Romaji: Enryo naku douzo. Okini meshita mono wo go-jiyuu ni otori kudasai. / Reply Romaji: Arigatou gozaimasu. Dewa, itadakimasu.
Reply
ありがとうございます。では、いただきます。
ありがとうございます。では、いただきます。
Thank you. Then I'll help myself.
Gesture & etiquette
Gesture openly with an open palm toward the food table or dishes. A warm smile reinforces the genuine 'no pressure' spirit. As host, serve the first helping onto a guest's plate yourself if they still hesitate — this breaks the social inhibition.
「遠慮なく」(without reservation / without holding back) is the explicit invitation to override the Japanese social norm of holding back (遠慮, enryo). A host who says this is granting permission to set aside politeness — guests should accept at least a little to honor the invitation.