ごちそうさまでした
gochisōsama deshitapolite
To thank a waiter in Japanese after a meal, say ごちそうさまでした (gochisōsama deshita). It means "thank you for the meal" and is the usual polite phrase when you finish eating or leave. It is also called ごちそうさま (gochisōsama) and ありがとうございます (arigatō gozaimasu).
Meaning: a phrase used to thank someone for a meal after finishing eating (phrase)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization | Note |
|---|---|---|
| ごちそうさまでした | gochisōsama deshita | polite |
| ごちそうさま | gochisōsama | casual |
| ありがとうございます | arigatō gozaimasu | polite |
Say ごちそうさまでした as you stand up to pay or on your way out. The shorter ごちそうさま (gochisōsama) is more casual. For a plain "thank you" for service, such as water being brought, use ありがとうございます (arigatō gozaimasu).
How do you pronounce it?
Say ごちそうさま as go-chi-sō-sa-ma. The sō has a long o, held for two beats. In deshita the u is very light, so it sounds like desh-ta.
When do people say it?
The phrase belongs to the meal as a whole, so it is said to the cook and the staff, not only to the person who carried your plate. Before eating, Japanese speakers say いただきます (itadakimasu).
Did you know?
- The word ごちそう (gochisō) on its own means a feast or a treat, and ごちそうさま is the polite way to acknowledge the one who provided it.
Examples in context
- ごちそうさま!Gochisōsama!Thanks for the meal!
- お水をありがとうございます。O-mizu o arigatō gozaimasu.Thank you for the water.
Example conversation
Tanaka finishes lunch at a restaurant and speaks to the Waiter at the register.
- Waiterありがとうございました。Arigatō gozaimashita.Thank you very much.
- Tanakaごちそうさまでした。おいしかったです。Gochisōsama deshita. Oishikatta desu.Thank you for the meal. It was delicious.
- Waiterまたお越しください。Mata okoshi kudasai.Please come again.
