Introduction
In Japanese, the verb おごる (ogoru) means “to treat someone to a meal,” but it’s mainly used in casual situations between friends or people of equal status. For more formal situations, such as with teachers, business associates, or superiors, the polite alternative is ごちそうする (gochisou suru). This verb can mean both “to invite someone for a meal” and “to pay for the meal.” Knowing when to use these two expressions will help you navigate different social situations in Japanese with ease and respect.
Examples
Using おごる (Ogorru) Among Friends
おごる is a casual way of saying “to treat someone” and is commonly used between friends or people of the same status.
ラーメン一緒に食べない？おごるよ。(Rāmen issho ni tabenai? Ogoru yo.)
Want to eat ramen together? I’ll treat you.
食べる！(Taberu!)
I’ll eat! / Sure!
In this sentence, おごる (ogoru) is used because it refers to a casual setting where the speaker and their friend are equals. It’s a friendly way of offering to pay for the meal.
Using ごちそうする (Gochisou Suru) in Polite Situations
ごちそうする is the more polite version of おごる and is used when the person you’re treating is a superior or in more formal situations. It can also mean both “to invite someone for a meal” and “to pay for the meal.”
昨日、先生が私たちに晩御飯をごちそうしてくださいました。
(Kinou, sensei ga watashitachi ni bangohan o gochisou shite kudasaimasita.)
“Our teacher invited us for dinner yesterday.”
- 先生が (sensei ga) – “our teacher”
- 私たちに (watashitachi ni) – “to us”
- 晩御飯をごちそうしてくださいました (bangohan o gochisou shite kudasaimashita) – “invited us to dinner” or “treated us to dinner”
The verb ごちそうする is flexible in meaning. It can mean either:
- Inviting someone for a meal.
- Paying for the meal.
In this context, it could mean that the teacher invited the students to dinner or that the teacher both invited and paid for the meal. The respect implied in the sentence reflects that the teacher is in a higher position, so the speaker uses a polite and respectful expression, くださいました (kudasaimashita), to show gratitude.
When to Use おごる vs. ごちそうする
- Use おごる (ogoru) when talking casually with friends, peers, or people in the same social group.
- Use ごちそうする (gochisou suru) in formal or polite settings, such as with teachers, business associates, or elders, as a respectful way to indicate treating someone to a meal.
Conclusion
Knowing the difference between おごる (ogoru) and ごちそうする (gochisou suru) allows you to navigate social situations in Japanese more effectively. Use おごる in casual settings among friends, and switch to ごちそうする when dealing with more formal or polite circumstances. This small change in word choice can help you communicate more appropriately based on the social context.
