How to Say ‘Thank you 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: This is the standard thing to say after finishing a meal when leaving, and it often feels warmer than a plain "thank you." You can say it to restaurant staff, hosts, or anyone who provided the meal.
Phrase Breakdown
ご
go
[goh]
honorific prefix
ご adds politeness and respect in set expressions.
ごちそうさまでした。
Thank you for the meal.
ちそう
chisou
[chee-soh]
feast; treat
Part of the fixed phrase ごちそうさまでした, said after finishing a meal.
ごちそうさまでした。
Thank you for the meal.
さま
sama
[sah-mah]
Mr./Ms.; honored person
In this phrase, さま adds respect and is part of a fixed expression.
ごちそうさまでした。
Thank you for the meal.
でし
deshi
[deh-shee]
was
Part of でした, the polite past form of です.
ごちそうさまでした。
Thank you for the meal.
た
ta
[tah]
past ending
Completes the polite past ending でした.
ごちそうさまでした。
Thank you for the meal.
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