0.05: E. Starting and Ending Eating/Drinking
- Page ID
- 17423
A:Douzo. どうぞ。 Please (have some.)
B:Jaa, itadakimasu. じゃあ、いただきます。Well, then I’ll have some.
・・・
Gochisou sama deshita.ごちそうさまでした。Thank you (That was delicious).
20. jaa, ja じゃあ/じゃ well then, if so
21. itadakimasu いただきます ritual expression before eating
22. gochisou-sama ごちそうさま ritual expression after eating
23. gochisou-sama deshita ごちそうさまでした formal version of gochisou-sama
Ja is used to follow up on what has been said, to switch topic, etc.
Itadakimasu literally means ‘I’ll humbly accept it’ and is used before eating or receiving a gift. Gochisousama (deshita) shows gratitude for the food or drink one has been offered. Even when alone Japanese people tend to whisper itadakimasu and gochisousama to start and end eating.