頂きます

Japanese
Japanese phrasebook
This entry is part of the phrasebook project, which presents criteria for inclusion based on usefulness, simplicity and commonness.
Kanji in this term
頂
いただ
Grade: 6
kun’yomi

Alternative forms
  • 戴 (いただ)きます (itadakimasu)

Etymology

The regular formal or polite conjugation of humble verb 頂 (いただ)く (itadaku, “to humbly receive”).[1][2]

Pronunciation

Phrase

頂きます (hiragana いただきます, rōmaji 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 (go-chisō-sama 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
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