🍹💰

How to Say ‘Please let me buy you a drink.’ in Japanese

一杯ごちそうさせてください。

itsu pai go chisou sa se te kudasai

[ichi pie goh chee-SOH sah seh te kudasai]

🇯🇵 In Japan: Asking to be allowed to treat someone, rather than just ordering for them, comes across as respectful and sincere. Ordering a drink for a stranger without asking first can feel presumptuous in Japan.

Phrase Breakdown

一杯ごちそうさせて

itsu pai go chisou sa se te

let me treat (you) to a drink

一杯 (ippai) means 'one glass' or 'a drink'. Hold the double 'p' briefly. Then say ごちそうさせて, 'let me treat you'.

Example

一杯ごちそうさせて。

Let me buy you a drink.

Words in this phrase

一

itsu

[ichi]

one

The number one. With counters, pronunciation may change depending on the counter.

Example

一杯お願いします。

One cup, please.

杯

pai

[pie]

cup; glass; counter for drinks

杯 counts cups or glasses of drinks. 一杯 means one cup/glass.

Example

ビールを一杯ください。

One beer, please.

ご

[goh]

polite prefix (adds respect)

Honorific prefix used to make a noun more polite. Common in neighbor-related phrases to sound considerate.

Example

ご近所の方には、いつでも言ってくださいと伝えました。

I told the neighbors, “Please tell me anytime.”

ちそう

chisou

[chee-SOH]

feast; treat

A meal or hospitality offered to someone; originally 'running around' to prepare food.

Example

ちそうをいただきました。

I was treated to a feast.

さ

[sah]

do (stem of suru)

Stem form of the verb suru 'to do', used before the honorific/passive ending reru.

Example

先生はもう帰宅されました。

The teacher has already gone home.

せ

[seh]

causative marker (part)

Part of the causative ending (〜せる) meaning “let/make (someone) do.”

Example

きょうは家で休ませます。

Today, I will let them rest at home.

て

[te]

te-form ending

Connects actions in sequence, like 'and' or 'then'.

Example

ドアが開いて、入ります。

The door opens, and then I go in.

ください。

kudasai

please

A polite request ending that makes the offer courteous. Say it ku-da-sa-i.

Example

待ってください。

Please wait.

Words in this phrase

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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