In the world of Japanese business, how you ask someone to look at something is just as important as what you are showing them. Whether you are presenting a new proposal, pointing to a graph in a meeting, or showing a guest around your office, the phrase "Go-ran kudasai" (ご覧ください) is your go-to expression for professional politeness.
Quick Summary:
Meaning: Please look; please see; please have a look.
Usage: Used when directing a superior, client, or customer’s attention to a document, screen, or physical object.
Tone: Highly polite and respectful (Sonkeigo).
The Breakdown of ‘Go-ran kudasai’
The phrase is a combination of three parts:
- Go (ご): An honorific prefix used to show respect to the person you are speaking to.
- Ran (覧): A kanji meaning “to look at,” “view,” or “inspect.”
- Kudasai (ください): The polite way to say “please.”
Combined, it literally means “please grant me the honor of you viewing this.” It is the Sonkeigo (honorific) version of the standard verb miru (to see/look). Using this phrase elevates the action of the other person, acknowledging their importance.
When and How to Use It
You will encounter “Go-ran kudasai” in several common business scenarios:
1. During Presentations and Meetings
When you want the audience to look at a specific slide or a handout, you say: "Shiryou no san-peiji o go-ran kudasai" (Please look at page three of the materials).
2. In Business Emails
When attaching a file, you might write: "Tenpufairu o go-ran kudasai" (Please see the attached file). Often, you might be providing Tsuika-shiryou (supplemental materials) that require their attention.
3. Showing a Physical Product or Office
If you are giving a tour, you might gesture to a facility and say: "Kochira o go-ran kudasai" (Please look this way / Please look at this).
A Typical Business Dialogue
Staff (Tanaka): Sato-sama, kyou no uchiawase no shiryou o o-okuri shimashita. (Mr. Sato, I have sent the materials for today’s meeting.)
Client (Sato): Arigatou gozaimasu. Ima kakunin shimasu. (Thank you. I will check them now.)
Staff (Tanaka): Gopeiji-me ni shousai ga gozaimasu node, go-ran kudasai. (The details are on page five, so please have a look.)
Pro-Tip: Can I use it for myself?
Never! Since Go-ran kudasai is honorific (Sonkeigo), it can only be used for the actions of others. If you want to say “I will look at it,” you should use the humble (Kenjougo) form, haiken shimasu.
Polishing Your Delivery
While “Go-ran kudasai” is perfectly polite on its own, business professionals often pair it with Go-setsumei Itashimasu (I will explain). For example: "Shiryou o go-ran kudasai. Naiyou ni tsuite go-setsumei itashimasu." (Please look at the materials. I will explain the contents.)
By mastering “Go-ran kudasai,” you demonstrate that you respect your client’s time and status, ensuring that your requests for their attention are always met with professional grace.
