Japanese

Alternative forms

• 戴きます

Verb

頂きます ‎(hiragana いただきます, romaji itadakimasu)

1. (humble, polite) to receive
2. (humble, polite) to eat; I will eat, let's eat

Usage notes

The let's eat sense is used when said before starting a meal. This usage and intent is vaguely similar to the custom among some English speakers to say grace before a meal, as a recognition of thankfulness for the food.

At the end of a meal, Japanese speakers say ご馳 (ち)走 (そう)様 (さま)でした ‎(gochisōsama deshita, “it was a feast”).

References

1. ↑ 1988, 国語大辞典（新装版） (Kokugo Dai Jiten, Revised Edition) (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Shogakukan
2. ↑ 2006, 大辞林 (Daijirin), Third Edition (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Sanseidō, ISBN 4-385-13905-9