どうぞ宜しく

• Reading: どうぞよろしく
• Romaji: douzo yoroshiku
• Kanji breakdown: 宜 (gi/yoro) — suitable, proper, good
• Pronunciation: /doː.zo jo.ɾo.ɕi.kɯ/

Meaning

Pleased to meet you; I look forward to your favour. A polite self-introduction phrase.

A set greeting expression used when meeting someone for the first time or asking for future goodwill. A slightly more emphatic version of よろしく (yoroshiku) or よろしくお願いします (yoroshiku onegai shimasu). どうぞ (douzo, please/by all means) adds warmth and sincerity. Often used at the end of a self-introduction. The kanji 宜 is sometimes written in hiragana as よろしく.

Examples

1. 初めまして、田中です。どうぞ宜しくお願いします。 How do you do? I'm Tanaka. Pleased to meet you.
2. 新しい部署に配属されて、どうぞ宜しくと挨拶した。 I was assigned to a new department and greeted everyone with 'pleased to meet you.
3. 隣に引っ越してきました。どうぞ宜しく。 I've just moved in next door. Pleased to meet you.

Usage Guide

Context: introductions, greetings, social situations

Tone: warm

Origin & History

Combination of どうぞ (douzo, please — from Old Japanese, expressing earnest invitation) and 宜しく (yoroshiku, suitably/favourably — adverb form of 宜しい/yoroshii, good/suitable).

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal