いただきます

い

た

だ

き

ま

す

Common wordJLPTN4

Meanings

expression

thank you for the meal; I humbly receive

usually written using kana alone

Fixed polite phrase said before eating; literally 'I humbly receive', but used as a set expression of gratitude for the food.

Kanji

頂place on the head, receive, top of head

Related words

ごちそうさま
Said after a meal to express thanks; いただきます is the corresponding phrase said before eating.
頂いただく
The humble verb 'to receive' from which this phrase derives; いただきます is its polite non-past form used as a fixed expression.

Opposites

ごちそうさまN2
いただきます is said before eating to start the meal, while ごちそうさま is said afterward to thank for the food just finished.
ごちそうさまでしたN5
いただきます is said before eating to give thanks for the food, while ご馳走様でした is said after finishing to thank for the meal.

Etymology

Derived from the humble verb 頂く (いただく, 'to receive'), literally meaning 'I humbly receive'. It became a fixed pre-meal greeting expressing gratitude for the food.