“Itadakimasu! ” &”Gochisou sama ” (Japanese manners)
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今日は、皆さん！Konnichiwa minasan! Hi, everyone!
Today’s lesson is about Japanese manners.
Japanese people say 「いただきます」“Itadakimasu” before they have meals at the table.
It means, “I will eat now!” “Dig in!” or “Let’s eat!”. Many Japanese people say that automatically without thinking but
「頂きます」（＝ Itadakimasu ）is a polite form of
「もらいます 」（=moraimasu) “to receive“
or
「食べます」（=tabemasu) “to eat“
It is originally meant to show your appreciation to life, nature, a person who cooks a meal, serves the food or makes money to feed you, etc.
You put both of your hands in front of your chest or put them on your laps and say 「いただきます」“Itadakimasu.”
People with good manners do that every meal when they eat with their family or when they are invited to other people’s houses as well. Also it is customary for children to say “itadakimasu” all together before eating lunch at school. 給食係 (=kyuushoku gakari), a student who is in charge for lunch says 「手を合わせて下さい！」(=te wo awasete kudasai”) “Put your hands together”. And then all the kids say 「いただきます！」(=itadakimasu) together out loud.
:ss: When you finish your meal, you should say「御馳走様(でした)！」=Gochisou sama (deshita), Thank you for the delicious meal!
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By saying that, you show your appreciation again to the person who serves, cooks, or provides the food.
The original meaning of ごちそう＝御馳走 ＝gochisou is 
御馳走 gochisou = a feast, nice meal, good food, etc.
Ex. 「今日は御馳走だよ！」(=Kyou wa gochisou dayo! )（~dayo = casual)
It’s a nice meal today!
Ex. 「今夜は腕をふるって御馳走を作ります。」Konya wa ude wo furutte gochisou shimasu.
I will do my best to cook a nice meal tonight.
Ex. 「すごい御馳走ですね。」（=Sugoi gochisou desu ne.)
What a feast! / It looks great! (Said as a compliment to a person who serves or cooks a nice meal for you.)
If someone treats you or invites you for a meal at their house, you should say 御馳走様（＋でした）(=gochisou sama (＋deshita)）
“Thank you for the nice meal!” after the meal.
Ex. 「昨日は御馳走様でした。」 Kinou wa gochisou sama deshita.
Thank you for the meal yesterday. (→This can be used when you are invited to someone’s family or when you are taken out to eat.)
Also when you treat someone you can also use this word.
The verb is 「御馳走する」 (=gochisou suru), and when someone treats you, the action will be passive, 「御馳走になる」（=gochisou ni naru)
Ex. 今夜は私が御馳走します。 Konya wa watashi ga gochisou shimasu.
It’s my treat tonight!
Ex. この間、鈴木さんに御馳走になりました。 Kono aida Suzuki san ni gochisou ni narimashita.
Suzuki-san treated me the other day.
Check out the Audio file for the example sentences.
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マギー先生より Maggie-sennsei yori From Maggie-sensei
今度、誰か御馳走してね。Kondo dareka gochisou shite ne.
Somebody treat me next time! ;)
8 Responses to ““Itadakimasu! ” &”Gochisou sama ” (Japanese manners)”
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@maggiesensei 
Sarah86 on October 12th, 2011
Hello Maggie sensei! Thank you so much for the great lesson’s; they’re always so insightful and informative. I have a question: if you are the person who is treating someone else, what is a polite and humble way to respond if they say ご馳走様でした to you? Also if you are the one who is again treating the other person, does it appear arrogant to say ご馳走様でした yourself or is it a way of expressing thanks (ie to God/the restaurant etc) at the end of the meal?
よろしくお願いします。
P.S I’m sorry for the long question! m(_ _)m
Maggie on October 12th, 2011
@Sarah86 Hi, Sarah! It is a really good question! I made this lesson a long time ago so I should add more inf.
If you treat someone, you don’t say 御馳走様でした。to the person you invited. But you can say that to the waiter, chef, restaurant owner when you leave.
★If you invite people, serve food and they say “御馳走様でした。” to you, you say ”
Ex. いえいえ、何のお構いもできませんで…
= Ieie nanno okamai mo dekimasen de.
= Not at all. I couldn’t serve you enough. (humble)
Ex. お口に合いましたか？
= Okuchi ni aimashita ka?
=Did it taste good enough for you?
Ex. お粗末様でした。
= Osomatsu sama deshita.
= It was a poor service/food. (lol!! I know this sounds too humble but our parents generation say that often.)
★If you take someone out and they say 御馳走様でした。to you, you could say
Ex. いえいえ、これ位のもので。お口に合ったらいいのですが..
= Ieie koregurai no mono de… Okuchi ni attara ii no desuga…
=Not at all. This is nothing. Hope this tasted good enough for you. (humble)
Ex. どういたしまして。私も楽しかったです。
= Douitashimashite. Watashi mo tanoshikatta desu.
= It’s my pleasure. I had a good time.
Ex. こちらこそ、お忙しい中、有り難うございました。
= Kochirakoso oisogashii naka arigatougozaimashita.
= ( It’s me who has to say thank you. Even though you were busy you made time for me.) Thank you for your time. (to someone superior)
Ex. どういたしまして。また美味しいもの(を）食べに行きましょう！
= Douitashimashite. mata oishii mono (wo) tabeni ikimashou.
= My pleasure! Let’s go out and eat something delicious again!
Sarah86 on October 17th, 2011
Maggie先生, 本当にありがとうございました！You’re the best!!
Thank you so much for taking the time to give such a detailed response! I will apply what you have taught me. Thank you so much again 
x
Maggie on October 17th, 2011
@Sarah86
You’re very welcome! また来てね！
Aki on June 1st, 2011
sensei, u know how here they say “the fastest way to man’s heart is through his stomach”? I swear, that applies to me too !!!(but I am not a man so it’s kinda scary that it applies to me 0_0 or maybe that saying is just wrong!>..>)
is there a saying like that in japan at all? any sort of “the fastest way to man’s heart …” sayings in japanese language at all?
Maggie on June 1st, 2011
@Aki
We say “男の気持をつかむには胃袋(ibukuro)をつかめ”
We also say “マギーの♥をつかむには胃袋をつかめ！”
アリナ on December 21st, 2010
Woww your gochisou’s picture is awesome!!
お腹すいた。
Maggie on December 21st, 2010
@アリナ
I bet you will eat a lot of ごちそう in Christmas holidays,too! Bon appetite!!