{"id":62947,"date":"2016-07-04T16:34:51","date_gmt":"2016-07-04T07:34:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cotoacademy.com\/itadakimasu-and-gochisousamadesu\/"},"modified":"2026-04-03T18:05:00","modified_gmt":"2026-04-03T09:05:00","slug":"itadakimasu-and-gochisousamadesu","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cotoacademy.com\/ja\/itadakimasu-and-gochisousamadesu\/","title":{"rendered":"What do Itadakimasu (\u3044\u305f\u3060\u304d\u307e\u3059) and Gochisousamadesu (\u3054\u3061\u305d\u3046\u3055\u307e\u3067\u3059) Mean?"},"content":{"rendered":"
Introduction<\/a>
Itadakimasu (\u3044\u305f\u3060\u304d\u307e\u3059)<\/a>
Gochisousamadesu (\u3054\u3061\u305d\u3046\u3055\u307e\u3067\u3059)<\/a>

<\/p>\n

Eating in Japan: Using Itadakimasu and Gochisousamadesu<\/h2>\n

Ever wondered about the meaning of the most important Japanese expressions for meal?<\/em><\/p>\n

Clapping hands together. \u201cItadakimasu!\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\n

This is an aspect of the Japanese culture which is well-known and loved by many. Simply ask any of our students for the reason of coming to Japan, one can easily get the answer \u201cBecause I love the Japanese culture\u201d. And one beautiful aspect of culture is certainly the consideration Japanese people have for their meals.<\/p>\n

What does Itadakimasu mean? (\u3044\u305f\u3060\u304d\u307e\u3059)<\/h2>\n

Generations after generations, they are taught to clap their hands together and say \u201cItadakimasu!\u201d before savouring the delicious-looking food in front of their eyes. \u201cItadakimasu\u201d can be translated into \u201cI humbly receive\u201d. Children learn the expression from a very young age at school and no one can even think of starting a meal while others have not received yet their share. Somehow roughly translated by \u201cLet\u2019s eat!\u201d in the Western culture, itadakimasu has its origin rooted in Japanese ancient history.<\/p>\n

\"Itadakimasu
Itadakimasu<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n

Itadakimasu is a very polite and respectful form of \u201cmoraimasu\u201d (to receive) or \u201ctabemasu\u201d (to eat). The kanji of itadakimasu \u9802 has several meanings, among which “the top of the head” and “to receive”. The expression relates to the traditional way of showing gratitude by elevating above one’s head the gift received. Through times, itadakimasu became the expression showing the appreciation for the food received. Before starting their meal family would repeat this phrase. The custom, still important and taught, has seen its deep meaning fading away.<\/p>\n

What does Gochisousamadesu mean? (\u3054\u3061\u305d\u3046\u3055\u307e\u3067\u3059)<\/h2>\n

\u3054\u99b3\u8d70\u69d8\u3067\u3057\u305f\uff01<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

After filling their stomachs, Japanese people thank those who prepared, cooked and served the food by saying \u201cGochisousamadesu!\u201d (\u3054\u99b3\u8d70\u69d8\u3067\u3059). In cases where the meal is treated by someone else, they would say \u201cGochisousamadesu!\u201d to the person who treated them the meal. Take a good look at the Kanji of \u3054\u99b3\u8d70\u69d8\u3067\u3059, we are going back in time to find out the origin of this word!<\/p>\n

Long long time ago, for the sake of providing a good meal for its guests, the host would travel long distances by horse to search for fresh and quality ingredients. In return for the enjoyable meal and putting so much effort in searching high and low for the best ingredients, the guests said to the host \u201c<\/i>\u3054\u99b3\u8d70\u69d8\u3067\u3059<\/span>\u201d (go-chi-sou-sama-de-su).<\/i><\/p>\n

The Kanji of \u201chorse\u201d (\u99ac) is reflected in \u201cchi\u201d (\u99b3) because back in the old days where cars were not yet invented, people travelled by horses. The following Kanji \u201cs\u014d\u201d (\u8d70) basically means \u201crun\u201d which expresses the travelling required to find good ingredients.<\/p>\n

In modern days, Japanese people mostly write \u201cGochisousamadesu\u201d in hiragana, instead of Kanji. When a question that goes \u201cWhat is gochisou?\u201d is posed to a Japanese, he\/she would answer \u201ca good meal\u201d. When Japanese people truly enjoyed the meal and loved to express their heartfelt thanks, they would use \u201cGochisousamadeshita!\u201d.<\/p>\n

Clapping hands together again. \u201cGochisousamadeshita!\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\n
\uff0a<\/div>\n
\u30fc \u7f8e\u5473\u3057\u305d\u3046\uff01\u3044\u305f\u3060\u304d\u307e\u3059\u301c\uff01<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\uff08\u3002\u3002\u3002\u30d1\u30af\u30d1\u30af\u30d1\u30af\u30d1\u30af\u3002\u3002\u3002\uff09<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\u30fc \u3054\u3061\u305d\u3046\u3055\u307e\u3067\u3057\u305f\uff01\u7f8e\u5473\u3057\u304b\u3063\u305f\uff01<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
 <\/div>\n
– It looks great! Itadakimasu!<\/strong>
(…pakupaku, pakupaku…) (onomatopoeia for “eating”)<\/strong>
– Gochisousamadeshita! It tasted good!<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
 <\/div>\n
\n
\n
 <\/div>\n
Now that you know what to say before and after you eat, how about learning about what (and what not) to do while eating using chopsticks<\/a>?<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Click to tweet and share this article with more Japanese learners!<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n
\n
Coto Japanese Academy is a unique Japanese Language School in Iidabashi Tokyo, we offer relaxed and fun conversational lessons for all levels of Japanese learner. Coto Japanese Academy prides itself on its community atmosphere and fun lessons that focus on creation of opportunities to speak and learn Japanese. If you are interested in studying Japanese in Tokyo – please visit our contact page here.<\/a><\/em><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Learn more Japanese phrases like Itadakimasu!<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\t\t