How to Say ‘Thank you for the meal (after eating)’ in Japanese
ごちそうさまでした
go chisou sama deshi ta
[goh chee-SOH sa-ma deh-shee tah]
🇯🇵 In Japan: Said after finishing a meal, to your host or to the staff as you leave a small restaurant. Saying it to the cook on your way out is warmly received.
Phrase Breakdown
ごちそうさま
go chisou sama
Thank you for the meal
A set expression of thanks said after eating. Hold the long 'o' in 'sou' for two beats: go-chi-so-o-sa-ma. On its own it is a casual version.
ごちそうさま、おいしかった！
Thanks for the meal, it was delicious!
Words in this phrase
ご
go
[goh]
honorific prefix
Polite prefix added to nouns like 心配 to sound respectful.
ご心配をかけてすみません。
I'm sorry for causing you worry.
ちそう
chisou
[chee-SOH]
feast; treat
A meal or hospitality offered to someone; originally 'running around' to prepare food.
ちそうをいただきました。
I was treated to a feast.
さま
sama
[sa-ma]
honorific suffix
A respectful suffix added to show reverence or politeness.
お客さまが来ました。
A guest/customer came.
でした
deshi ta
(it) was
でした (deshita) is the polite past form of です. Adding it makes the phrase more polite. The 'i' is often softened, so it sounds like 'desh-ta'.
楽しかったです。ありがとうございました。
It was fun. Thank you very much.
Words in this phrase
でし
deshi
[deh-shee]
was (polite) part
Part of でした, the polite past form of です.
昨日はだめでした。
It was no good yesterday.
た
ta
[tah]
past tense ending
This ending completes the polite past tense form.
空席がございまし た。
There were vacant seats.
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