There are loads of simple, short phrases that you use in daily situations without thinking much, like “Good morning.”, “Oh my God.” or most recently “You ate it!” (Not necessarily meaning literally eating something, as you know)“. Sometimes the phrases come out of the blue, but many of them that have been used for decades have their own history and cultural background. So, in this article for eager Japanese learners, we’ll dig into the most commonly used Japanese phrases at meals: “いただきます (Itadakimasu)” and “ごちそうさま (Gochisosama)“. By knowing about the roots of these phrases and manners during a meal, you’ll discover not only something about Japanese culture but also the thoughts and values people traditionally have in Japan!
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What Does “いただきます (Itadakimasu)” Mean?
Before starting a meal, most Japanese people say “Itadakimasu” with their hands put together and slightly bow their heads. The phrase is used in a similar situation in which “Bon Appétit” in French or “Guten Appetit” in German is used. While the French/German phrase means “Enjoy your meal” (literally meaning “Good Appetite”) and a host would say it to guests, “Itadakimasu” literally means “I’ll (humbly) take the food”, and guests would say it to the host, the person who prepared the meal, and the meal itself. The phrase and the manner of doing so are quite common among Japanese people because it is usually taught by parents to children, from generation to generation. Indeed, the phrase is said to be rooted in the thinking of Japan’s indigenous religion 神道 (Shinto). It is similar to the spirit of animism, & worship of nature, with roots perhaps 10,000 years old, and children in Japan are often taught by their parents that every grain of rice and food has a soul spirit and that they should not leave a single rice grain behind in a bowl. If you have watched a the Japanese anime movie “Princess Mononoke”, you might remember a the small forest spirits named “Kodama”, which reflect the same thinking. As timewent by, the use of “Itadakimasu” became more of a cultural thing and now people with various religious beliefs or even non-religious people say the phrase to simply express their gratitude to for the meal or to the host.
See also: How to Learn Japanese: The First 3 Steps You Should Take
What does “ごちそうさま (Gochisousama)” mean?
“Gochisousama” is a phrase used with your hands put together and a slight bow of the head when you finish a meal, to express your appreciation and respect once again. The root of the phrase, which literally means “It was a great work” or “It was such a feast” should be best described in a kanji form. In kanji, “Gochisousama” is written as “御馳走様” and can be divided into three parts: “御 (go)”, “馳走 (chisou)” and “様 (sama)”. While “御 (go)” and “様 (sama)” are often added to many other phrases to say/write the phrases in a polite way with respect, “馳走 (chisou)” has the meaning of “to run”. Some decades (or of course centuries ago), were times when it is hard to find any convenience stores or supermarkets in neighborhoods, so people had to go all the way to a city center or to go (or even run) from shop to shop, to get vegetables, meat or other ingredients needed to prepare a meal. The phrase is used to show respect and gratitude towards the hard work and the people themselves for this. Even today, with the far greater convenience and efficiency when preparing a meal, “Gochisousama” is still used to express your gratitude to all the people who were involved in the preparation of a single meal at the table.
See also：10 Best Free Apps to Learn Japanese
Other Manners When Using Chopsticks
If you are not familiar with how to use chopsticks in situations where Japanese dishes (washoku) are served, here are some dos/don’ts that you should know to pay even more respect to the food and all those involved.
5 Important “Don’ts” of Using Chopsticks
1. 刺し箸 (Sashibashi): Do Not Eat by Sticking Chopsticks into Food
Sticking your chopsticks directly into your food is inappropriate. Pinch a certain amount with your chopsticks and deliver it to your mouth. Never stab the food.
2. 立て箸 (Tatebashi): Do Not Leave Chopsticks Stuck Vertically in Food
Leaving your chopsticks stuck vertically in the rice of a bowl is thought rude because it is traditionally done at funerals. Don’t do this – it is also considered to be bad luck (unless it is done for dead people, of course).
3. 寄せ箸 (Yosebashi): Do Not Pull Dishes Close with Chopsticks
It is considered rude to put your chopsticks on the edge of a plate or a bowl and pull the dish close to you. Hold and lift the plate or the bowl with hands instead.
4. 箸渡し (Hashiwatashi): Do Not Pass Food from Chopsticks to Chopsticks
Special iron chopsticks are used when cremating a deceased person and then picking up the bones, which are then passed from family member to family member using them, so it is inappropriate to pass food from chopsticks to chopsticks. Again, this is a funeral practice, so it is a no-no.
5. 渡し箸 (Watashibashi): Do Not Place Chopsticks over Plates or Bowls
If you leave chopsticks on a plate or a bowl with some food still there, it means you are done/full and asking the waiter or the host to clean up the table. Don’t do that – unless you really are finished your meal.
Summary
We have introduced two commonly used phrases for meals and some basic rules of using chopsticks. We hope it helps you understand not only special Japanese manners, but also thoughts of respect Japanese people have long valued.
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