Itadakimasu
| Origin | Japanese: いただきます |
|---|---|
| Context | traditionally said prior to eating a meal as a way of expressing gratitude |
| Meaning | 'to humbly receive' |
Itadakimasu (Japanese: いただきます; IPA: [itadakimaꜜsɯ̥]) is a Japanese phrase that translates 'to humbly receive'. Often said before eating a meal, the phrase is used as a way of showing gratitude and respect for everyone and everything that made the meal in front of you possible. It is meant to honor all: from the natural elements that supplied the ingredients, the people who grew the produce, to the ones who prepared and cooked the meal, etc.
The term compounds the Japanese verb itadaku (いただく; 'to receive'/'to accept') and the suffix -masu (ます), added to the end of verbs to make sentences polite.