Japanese word

遠慮

Pronunciation

Romajienryo

Meaning

  • nounhesitation

Example

どうぞ遠慮しないでください。dō zo en ryo shi na i de ku da sa i

Please do not hesitate.

Illustration for 遠慮 (hesitation)

More examples

質問があれば、遠慮なく手を挙げてください。shitsu mon ga a re ba en ryo na ku te o a ge te ku da sa i

If you have a question, please raise your hand without hesitation.

Core concept

It expresses deliberate restraint that keeps a person from acting or speaking freely in consideration of others.

Common phrases

  • 遠慮なくen ryo na ku

    without hesitation

  • 遠慮するen ryo su ru

    hesitate

Similar words

気兼ねkigane: Concern about burdening or offending others that makes a person hold back.
ためらいtamerai: A feeling of uncertainty that delays an action or decision.

Definition in Japanese

相手や周囲に気を配り、言動を控えること。ai te ya shū i ni ki o kuba ri gen dō o hika e ru ko to

Word origin

遠慮 (enryo) is a Sino-Japanese compound of 遠 (en, "far") and 慮 (ryo, "consideration"), based on the idea of considering matters far ahead before acting.

Usage tips

  • In everyday conversation, 遠慮 (enryo) can describe social restraint rather than doubt, which explains its use when someone politely holds back from accepting or asking for something.

Other meanings

  • reservenoun
  • restraintnoun

Opposites

  • 積極性sekkyokuseiassertivenessnoun

Related words

  • 遠慮深いenryobukaireservedi-adjective
  • 遠慮がちenryogachihesitantna-adjective

Word lists with this word