How to Say ‘Let's eat (before meals)’ in Japanese
いただきます
itadaki masu
[ee-tah-dah-kee mahs]
🇯🇵 In Japan: Said quietly before eating, often with hands together, even when eating alone. It expresses thanks for the food rather than inviting others to start.
Phrase Breakdown
いただき
itadaki
[ee-tah-dah-kee]
receive humbly
A humble verb stem from いただく, often used in polite service expressions when receiving money or items.
お金をいただきます。
I will receive the money.
ます
masu
[mahs]
polite verb ending
A standard polite ending added to verbs, often used in customer service and formal speech.
予約を確認し ます。
I will confirm the reservation.
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