ごゆっくり
goyukkuri
Take your time/Enjoy yourself
Phrase in 30 Seconds
A polite set phrase used to tell guests or customers to relax, enjoy themselves, and not feel rushed.
- Means: 'Please take your time' or 'Enjoy your stay/meal' in a polite way.
- Used in: Restaurants, hotels, or when a guest is staying at your home.
- Don't confuse: It is not a command to move slowly, but a permission to relax.
Explanation at your level:
Signification
A polite way to tell someone to relax and not rush.
Contexte culturel
In Japan, service is about anticipating needs. 'Go-yukkuri' is said so the customer never feels like they are being 'pushed' out to make room for new customers. Using 'Go-yukkuri' when leaving a group shows you aren't trying to end the party. It preserves the 'Wa' (harmony) of the remaining group. At a Ryokan, time is meant to slow down. The staff use 'Go-yukkuri' to signal that the guest is now in a 'timeless' space away from work. The phrase 'Yukkuri shite itte ne!' became a massive meme in Japan, associated with 'Yukkuri' versions of Touhou Project characters.
The 'Douzo' Combo
Always pair 'Go-yukkuri' with 'Douzo' in service settings to sound like a pro.
Don't use for work speed
Never tell your boss 'Go-yukkuri' when they are working on a deadline.
Signification
A polite way to tell someone to relax and not rush.
The 'Douzo' Combo
Always pair 'Go-yukkuri' with 'Douzo' in service settings to sound like a pro.
Don't use for work speed
Never tell your boss 'Go-yukkuri' when they are working on a deadline.
The Silent Permission
Saying this allows the other person to stop talking and just relax.
Teste-toi
Fill in the missing part of the polite phrase used in a restaurant.
お{料理|りょうり}をどうぞ。ご（ ）どうぞ。
'Go-yukkuri douzo' is the standard polite way to say 'Enjoy your meal.'
Match the phrase to the correct situation.
When should you say 'Go-yukkuri'?
It tells those staying behind to keep enjoying their time.
Complete the dialogue between a hotel clerk and a guest.
Clerk: お{部屋|へや}はこちらです。_____ Guest: ありがとうございます。
Hotel staff use this to welcome guests to their room.
Which of these is the most formal way to say 'Take your time'?
Choose the most formal option:
The use of 'nasatte kudasai' (honorific 'to do') makes it very formal.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Where you will hear 'Go-yukkuri'
Service
- • Restaurants
- • Cafes
- • Hotels
Home
- • Guest room
- • Living room
- • Bath time
Social
- • Leaving a party
- • Ending a call
- • Non-urgent mail
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsNo, it can be used for staying in a room, taking a bath, reading, or just sitting in a park.
Yes, if they are taking a break or staying behind after class, 'ごゆっくりどうぞ' is very polite.
'Yukkuri' is a simple adverb (slowly). 'Go-yukkuri' is the polite social phrase.
A simple 'ありがとうございます' (Thank you) or '失礼します' (Excuse me) is perfect.
Yes, 'ごゆっくりお過ごしください' is a common way to end an email to someone on vacation.
Not exactly, but it is often used *during* a goodbye when you are the one leaving.
It sounds a bit too formal. For a child, just say 'ゆっくりしてね'.
Usually, it's said by the person leaving or the person serving. If you are both staying, you might say 'ゆっくりしよう' (Let's relax).
Yes, {徐|ゆっくり}, but it is almost always written in hiragana.
Yes, to tell a client they don't need to rush a decision or a review of documents.
Expressions liées
ゆっくりしてね
similarRelax / Take it easy (casual)
お寛ぎください
similarPlease make yourself at home
お大事に
specialized formTake care (when sick)
お先に失礼します
contrastExcuse me for leaving first
Où l'utiliser
At a Restaurant
{店員|てんいん}: お{待|ま}たせいたしました。ごゆっくりどうぞ。
{客|きゃく}: ありがとうございます。
Leaving a Cafe early
A: ごめん、もう{行|い}かなきゃ。
B: あ、わかりました。ごゆっくり！
Hotel Check-in
フロント: お{荷物|にもつ}はお{部屋|へや}に{運|はこ}んでおきます。ごゆっくりお{寛|くつろ}ぎください。
{客|きゃく}: お{願|ねが}いします。
Visiting a Friend's House
{友達|ともだち}: お{茶|ちゃ}、お{代|か}わりあるからね。ゆっくりしてね。
あなた: ありがとう。ゆっくりするよ。
At a Spa or Onsen
{受付|うけつけ}: タオルはこちらです。ごゆっくり。
{客|きゃく}: はい、ありがとうございます。
Ending a non-urgent call
A: じゃあ、また{明日|あした}。ごゆっくり。
B: うん、おやすみ。
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Think of a 'Go' sign that tells you to move 'Slowly' (Yukkuri). Go + Slowly = Take your time!
Visual Association
Imagine a steaming cup of green tea on a low table in a quiet room with a view of a Zen garden. The steam rises slowly, inviting you to stay.
Rhyme
Go-yukkuri, don't you hurry!
Story
You enter a small Japanese cafe. The master brings you a warm towel and says 'Go-yukkuri.' You realize you don't have to check your phone or rush to your next meeting. You can just sit and watch the rain.
Word Web
Défi
Next time you are at a Japanese restaurant or cafe, listen for the staff saying this when they bring your order. Try to say it to a friend when you leave them at a table.
In Other Languages
Take your time / Enjoy
Japanese uses it more consistently as a set phrase in hospitality.
Con calma / Que disfrute
Spanish often focuses on the enjoyment of the specific item (food/stay).
Prenez votre temps
French doesn't have a specific 'honorific prefix' version for service.
Lassen Sie sich Zeit
German feels slightly more functional and less 'hospitality-focused'.
على مهلك (Ala mahlak)
Arabic usage is often more about physical safety or patience.
慢用 (Màn yòng) / 慢慢来 (Mànmàn lái)
Chinese has specific phrases for food vs. tasks, whereas 'Go-yukkuri' is broader.
천천히 하세요 (Cheoncheonhi haseyo)
Korean often includes the verb 'to do' (haseyo) more explicitly.
Fique à vontade
Portuguese emphasizes 'freedom' while Japanese emphasizes 'time'.
Easily Confused
Learners might mix up 'take your time' with 'it's about time to go.'
Remember 'Yukkuri' is slow, 'Sorosoro' is 'soon/gradually.'
The opposite of yukkuri.
Yukkuri = Turtle 🐢, Hayaku = Rabbit 🐇.
FAQ (10)
No, it can be used for staying in a room, taking a bath, reading, or just sitting in a park.
Yes, if they are taking a break or staying behind after class, 'ごゆっくりどうぞ' is very polite.
'Yukkuri' is a simple adverb (slowly). 'Go-yukkuri' is the polite social phrase.
A simple 'ありがとうございます' (Thank you) or '失礼します' (Excuse me) is perfect.
Yes, 'ごゆっくりお過ごしください' is a common way to end an email to someone on vacation.
Not exactly, but it is often used *during* a goodbye when you are the one leaving.
It sounds a bit too formal. For a child, just say 'ゆっくりしてね'.
Usually, it's said by the person leaving or the person serving. If you are both staying, you might say 'ゆっくりしよう' (Let's relax).
Yes, {徐|ゆっくり}, but it is almost always written in hiragana.
Yes, to tell a client they don't need to rush a decision or a review of documents.
