Itadakimasu (いただきます): why anime characters say it before eating
いただきます
いただきます · itadakimasu
In Japan, people say itadakimasu before eating, usually with their hands together. It literally means "I humbly receive": thanks for the food and everyone who made it possible, rather than just "let’s eat".
Word by word
| いただく | いただく | to humbly receive (humble form of もらう/食べる) |
| ます | ます | polite ending |
Before and after a meal
Say it just before your first bite, even if you’re eating alone. Anime often shows a whole family or classroom saying it together before a meal.
Once you’ve finished eating, say ごちそうさま (gochisousama) or ごちそうさまでした: "Thank you for the meal."
When it means "I’ll take it"
If someone offers you something, いただきます can also mean a polite "I’ll take it". A villain can use it while grabbing a prize, too, though the tone is very different.
More examples
- いただきます！ itadakimasu! — Thanks for the food! (before eating)
- ごちそうさまでした。 gochisousama deshita. — Thank you for the meal. (after eating)
Hear it in real scenes
In Animei you watch anime with Japanese subtitles, tap any word for its reading and meaning, and keep it as a flashcard with the clip it came from.
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