おいしかったです
oishikatta desu
To say it was tasty in Japanese, use おいしかったです (oishikatta desu).
Say it after you finish eating to tell the cook, the host or the restaurant that you enjoyed the food.
What does it mean word for word?
おいしかった is the past form of the adjective for tasty or delicious, and です makes it polite.
How does it change in a sentence?
The past tense sits in the adjective itself. Among friends and family you can drop です and just say おいしかった.
How do you pronounce it?
It is pronounced oishikatta desu. The u at the end of desu is often barely heard.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Do not add a past form to です as well. The past is already in おいしかった.
When do people say it?
It is a warm thing to say to whoever made the meal, and it is often said together with the set phrase of thanks that Japanese people say after eating.
Did you know?
- While おいしい ('oishii') describes taste, the word うまい ('umai') can also be used to say someone is 'skillful' at a task.
- In Japan, it is common to express that a meal was tasty by saying ごちそうさま (gochisousama), which literally means 'it was a feast'. This phrase focuses on the effort the cook put into the meal rather than just the flavor.
- The word おいしい (oishii) is a modern standard, but in some regions, you may hear うまい (umai) used exclusively by men. In traditional etiquette, うまい was once considered too blunt or masculine for formal settings.
Examples in context
- ケーキ、とてもおいしかったです。Kēki, totemo oishikatta desu.The cake was very tasty.
- 昨日の夕食はおいしかったです。Kinō no yūshoku wa oishikatta desu.Yesterday's dinner was tasty.
- この料理はおいしかったです。Kono ryōri wa oishikatta desu.This dish was tasty.
Example conversation
Yui and Yota are finishing a meal at a restaurant.
- 結衣 Yui陽太さん、料理はどうでしたか？Yōta-san, ryōri wa dō deshita ka?Yota, how was the food?
- 陽太 Yotaすごくおいしかったです！Sugoku oishikatta desu!It was really tasty!
- 結衣 Yuiよかったです。気に入ってくれましたね。Yokatta desu. Ki ni itte kuremashita ne.I'm glad. You liked it, then.
- 陽太 Yotaはい、また来たいです。Hai, mata kitai desu.Yes, I want to come here again.
