Itadakimasu: Meaning, Pronunciation, When to Say It, and Examples

Key takeaways

• いただきます (itadakimasu) is said before eating and literally means I humbly receive.
• It expresses gratitude to everyone involved in the food: the farmers, cooks, and even the animals.
• いただきます is the humble (-masu) form of the verb いただく (itadaku), itself the humble form of もらう (morau: to receive).
• ごちそうさまでした (gochisousama deshita) is the paired phrase said after finishing a meal.
• Both phrases are used in homes, restaurants, and schools across Japan and are among the most culturally significant daily expressions in the language.

いただきます (itadakimasu) is one of the first Japanese expressions everyone learns, but it is also one of the most misunderstood. The standard translation let’s eat or bon appétit misses what the phrase is doing.

This guide covers the real meaning, the correct pronunciation, the cultural context, the paired phrase ごちそうさまでした (gochisousama deshita: I received a feast), and how and when to use both.

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What itadakimasu means The literal meaning of いただきます (itadakimasu) is I humbly receive. It comes from: いただく (itadaku): the humble form of もらう (morau: to receive) and 食べる (taberu: to eat); ます (masu): the polite verb ending.

The phrase is an expression of gratitude directed at the farmers who grew the ingredients, the animal if meat is involved, the person who cooked the meal, the person who paid for it, and nature or the universe depending on individual framing. This is why bon appétit is an incomplete translation.

いただきます is an act of thanks before receiving nourishment.

Pronunciation

Japanese	Romaji	Pronunciation guide
いただきます	itadakimasu	ee-tah-DAH-kee-mah-su

Japanese is a pitch-accent language rather than a stress-accent language. Say each syllable with roughly equal length: i-ta-da-ki-ma-su. In fast natural speech, the final u in masu is often devoiced (nearly silent), so it sounds closer to itadakimas.

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When to say itadakimasu

いただきます is said before every meal whether at home or in a restaurant, before eating a snack someone offers you, before drinking tea or any drink in a formal or semi-formal setting, and in schools at lunchtime. Say it immediately before you begin eating. Clasp your hands together briefly (合掌, gassho) if following traditional etiquette, though many Japanese people simply say the phrase without the hand gesture.

The paired phrase: gochisousama deshita

Japanese	Romaji	English
ごちそうさまでした	gochisousama deshita	Thank you for the meal (formal)
ごちそうさま	gochisousama	Thank you for the meal (casual)

ごちそうさまでした (gochisousama deshita) is said after finishing a meal. Use it in formal settings or when someone cooked for you. Use ごちそうさま casually with family and close friends.

いただきます in sentences and extended uses

Japanese	Romaji	English
お先にいただきます	osaki ni itadakimasu	I’ll go ahead (eating, leaving)
いただいてよろしいですか	itadaite yoroshii desu ka	May I receive/take this?
ではいただきます	dewa itadakimasu	Well then, I’ll have it (accepting an offer)
お電話いただきありがとうございます	o-denwa itadaki arigatou gozaimasu	Thank you for calling

Use these extended forms naturally in context with a Japanese tutor on italki.

Cultural context

いただきます is deeply embedded in Japanese culture and reflects ideas found in Shinto and Buddhist traditions about gratitude for life. The concept of mottainai (もったいない: the sense of loss and waste when something is thrown away) is related. Children in Japan learn these phrases before they start school.

Authentic Japanese communication depends on knowing not just what to say, but when and with whom to say it. With 30,000+ expert tutors trusted by over 10 million learners worldwide, italki connects you with Japanese teachers who show you how these expressions sound and function in real conversations. Book a trial lesson today.

FAQ Is it rude to start eating without saying itadakimasu?

In a casual setting among friends or at home, not saying いただきます is not deeply offensive, but it is noticed. In a formal setting such as a business meal or a meal hosted by someone’s family, skipping it would be considered impolite.

Do I say itadakimasu even at a restaurant when the server brings food?

Yes. You say it to yourself (or with your dining companions) when you are about to start eating, not to the server. The phrase is a personal expression of gratitude, not a comment directed at the staff.

What is the difference between gochisousama and gochisousama deshita?

ごちそうさま is the plain form used casually with family and close friends. ごちそうさまでした adds the past tense polite verb ending でした (deshita), making it slightly more formal and appropriate for restaurants or someone else’s home.