How to Say ‘May I treat you?’ in Japanese
ごちそうしてもいいですか？
go chisou shi te mo ii desu ka
[goh chee-SOH shee te mo ee-ee dess kah]
💬 Usage Tip: Adding もいいですか to a verb's て form asks permission: 座ってもいいですか？ "May I sit?"
Phrase Breakdown
ごちそうしても
go chisou shi te mo
even if I treat (you)
ごちそうする (gochisou suru) means to treat someone to food or drink. てもいい means 'is it okay to'.
ランチをごちそうします。
I'll treat you to lunch.
Words in this phrase
ご
go
[goh]
honorific prefix
A polite prefix added to some nouns to make them more respectful or formal.
ご相談の前にお名前をお願いします。
Before the consultation, may I have your name, please?
ちそう
chisou
[chee-SOH]
feast; treat
A meal or hospitality offered to someone; originally 'running around' to prepare food.
ちそうをいただきました。
I was treated to a feast.
し
shi
[shee]
do
し is the stem of する, meaning to do.
予約しします。
I do the reservation.
て
te
[te]
te-form ending
Connects actions in sequence, like 'and' or 'then'.
ドアが開いて、入ります。
The door opens, and then I go in.
も
mo
[mo]
also; even
Part of でも, adding the nuance of something like or maybe.
コーヒーでも飲みましょう。
Let's have coffee or something.
いいですか？
ii desu ka
is it okay?
いい (ii) means good or okay. ですか makes it a polite question, so let your voice rise at the end.
座ってもいいですか？
May I sit down?
Words in this phrase
いい
ii
[ee-ee]
good; okay
Shows that something is acceptable or permitted.
ここに書いてもいいです。
It is okay to write here.
です
desu
[dess]
is; polite copula
A polite sentence ending used in formal conversation.
少し伺いたいです。
I would like to ask a little.
か
ka
[kah]
question marker
Placed at the end of a sentence to make it a question.
A席はありますか。
Are there A seats available?
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