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How to Say ‘Please, have a seat.’ in Japanese

どうぞ、おかけください。

douzo o kake kudasai

[doh-zoh oh KAH-keh kudasai]

🇯🇵 In Japan: In a Japanese interview, wait for this invitation before sitting down. Sitting first can come across as presumptuous.

Phrase Breakdown

どうぞ、

douzo

please (go ahead)

A word used to politely offer or invite someone to do something. It has a long 'o' and is said as 'dōzo'.

Example

どうぞ、入ってください。

Please come in.

Words in this phrase

どうぞ

douzo

[doh-zoh]

please; go ahead

Used to invite someone to do something, such as sit down or proceed.

Example

空いている席なら、どうぞとやさしく言えます。

If the seat is free, you can gently say, “Please, go ahead.”

おかけください。

o kake kudasai

have a seat

A polite way to ask someone to sit down. It comes from 'kakeru', meaning to sit on a chair. Say it as 'okake kudasai'.

Example

こちらにおかけください。

Please have a seat here.

Words in this phrase

お

[oh]

honorific prefix

お adds politeness to certain words and expressions.

Example

チケットを二枚お願いします。

Two tickets, please.

かけ

kake

[KAH-keh]

sit (stem of kakeru)

Stem of the verb kakeru, here meaning to sit down on a chair; used politely as o-kake.

Example

いすにかけてください。

Please sit on the chair.

ください

kudasai

[kudasai]

please (do)

Used to make a polite request.

Example

手伝ってください。

Please help me.

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