ごちそうさまでした
gochisousama deshita
In Japanese, "thank for the food" is expressed as ごちそうさまでした (gochisousama deshita).
ごちそうさまでした is used to express appreciation for a meal or when leaving a restaurant. It is typically said immediately after finishing a meal to signal the end of the eating process. This is the counterpart to いただきます, which is said before starting a meal as an expression of gratitude for the food.
What does it mean word for word?
The word ごちそう refers to a feast or a meal that required great effort to prepare.
Which one should you use?
While いただきます is used before starting a meal, ごちそうさまでした is used after the meal is finished.
How does it change in a sentence?
Adding でした makes the phrase polite and is the standard way to address a host or restaurant staff. Dropping でした to say ごちそうさま makes the phrase more casual and is used among friends or family.
How do you pronounce it?
gochisousama deshita
Did you know?
- The word ちそう in ごちそうさま originally meant 'running around' to gather ingredients for guests. It reflects a time when hosts had to physically travel to different locations to source a feast.
- The phrase is part of a spiritual cycle. While いただきます acknowledges the life sacrificed for the meal, ごちそうさまでした serves to officially close that cycle of gratitude.
- Even if you are eating alone, many Japanese people will still say ごちそうさまでした to themselves. This practice shows respect for the ingredients and the work that went into the meal.
Examples in context
- ごちそうさまでした。Gochisousama deshita.Thank you for the meal.
- とても美味しかったです。ごちそうさまでした。Totemo oishikatta desu. Gochisousama deshita.It was very delicious. Thank you for the food.
Example conversation
A son and his mother are finishing lunch at home.
- 大翔 Hirotoお母さん、ごちそうさまでした。Okaasan, gochisousama deshita.Mom, thank you for the meal.
- 結衣 Yui美味しかった？Oishikatta?Was it delicious?
- 大翔 Hirotoうん、最高だったよ。Un, saikou datta yo.Yeah, it was the best.
- 結衣 Yuiよかったわ。Yokatta wa.I'm glad.
