Culture Fact: Before and After You Eat

Japanese has quite a few set phrases that have become staples of their culture. In my previous culture fact, I talked about the set phrases when you enter someone's house or that can be used when someone enters your house. This time, we're going to talk about what you say when you eat. Whether it be at a restaurant, or at a friend's house, or even in your own home, these phrases will come in handy.

In America when you sit down to eat, it is normal and polite to thank the cook or thank the waiter or waitress for bringing out your food. As the food is set down in front of you, a hearty thank you will often emerge from your grinning lips. When you're dining at home and your mom has made your favorite dish, you say thank you. When your fiance makes homemade ramen or sushi, you definitely say thank you (Thank you, honey!).  It's polite and honestly just always a good idea to thank those who feed you.

In Japan, thanking someone for food is also a standard, but it is not normal for someone to say "arigatou gozaimasu" (ありがとうございます),  or "thank you", when you receive the meal. Instead, you say:

いただきます

i - ta - da - ki - ma - su

This literally means "I humbly receive", and it tends to take the place of "thank you" before eating. For example, if you were at a restaurant and the waiter/waitress sets your food down in front of you, before you pick up your chopsticks to dig into that delicious soba, this is what you would say. Then you'd begin eating. 

Once you finish eating, there is another phrase that is said and this one is an official thank you:

ごちそうさまでした

go - chi - so - u - sa - ma - de - shi - ta

This is what usually gets translated as "thank you for the meal". When learning Japanese, remembering these set phrases can be difficult, especially if you are from a culture that just says "thank you" no matter what the situation is. I try and practice these phrases (the key part is remembering to practice), and I usually find myself using them at Japanese restaurants (go figure). Even if they're not said out loud, I still try to get into the habit of saying these so the next time I go to Japan, I don't forget my manners. So the next time you find yourself sitting at the table for dinner, give these a try, and don't worry about the weird looks you'll get from your family members. It's all part of the learning process.