How to Say ‘Thanks for the meal.’ in Japanese
ごちそうさまでした。
go chisou sama deshi ta
[goh chee-SOH sah-MAH DEH-shee tah]
🇯🇵 In Japan: Say this to whoever paid for your meal, and also to restaurant staff as you leave. It's the set phrase for thanking someone for food.
Phrase Breakdown
ご
go
[goh]
honorific prefix
Polite prefix placed before Sino-Japanese words like chuumon.
ご注文をどうぞ。
Please go ahead with your order.
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
[sah-MAH]
honorific suffix (in gochisousama)
Polite suffix that makes the phrase a respectful thanks.
ごちそうさま!
Thanks for the meal!
でし
deshi
[DEH-shee]
was (polite copula stem)
Stem of the polite copula です in its past form, combined with た to make でした.
昨日は雨でした。
It was rainy 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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