Japanese Greetings Used Before and After Meals: “Itadakimasu” and “Gochisosama”

Before eating meals, Japanese people join their hands in front of their chests and say, “itadakimasu.” After finishing, they perform the same gesture and say, “gochisosama.” These greetings are part of a day-to-day manner.

Japanese people hold their hands this way to show respect and to put their thoughts and feelings into form. They use the same gesture when praying to a kami or an ancestor. However, some people don’t join their hands and only say the greetings during a meal.

Let’s have a look at the meaning that each greeting conveys.

What Does “Itadakimasu” Mean?

“Itadakimasu” is the polite form of “itadaku,” which is a word to indicate modesty for taking and eating. Its origin comes from the Japanese kanji character 頂, which means “top of the head.” It refers to the body position (kneeling down, head bowed, arms extended upward) when receiving something from a higher-ranking person.

Saying “itadakimasu” shows gratefulness for the meal. First, because “itadaku” is also thought of as, “Thank you very much for giving up…