Say It Sushi › Gochisousama Deshita Meaning: What to Say After a Meal in Japan
Gochisousama Deshita Meaning: What to Say After a Meal in Japan
Gochisousama deshita (ごちそうさまでした, gochisōsama deshita) means “thank you for the meal.” People in Japan say it when they finish eating, to whoever made or served or paid for the food, and often just to the meal itself. Its partner is いただきます (itadakimasu), which is said before the first bite.
You'll see the first phrase spelled several ways in English: gochisousama, gochisosama, or gochisōsama. They're all the same word. This page uses gochisōsama, with a line over the o to show it's a long vowel.
Below you'll find what the phrase literally means, how to pronounce it, when to say it, and how people reply. After each section you can practice the phrases in a short timed game: a plate rolls by with English on it, and you pick the right Japanese before it's gone. The game's voice is synthetic (VOICEVOX), not a native recording. It's good for learning the rhythm, and the real thing is all around you once you're in Japan.
Want to remember these? Practice them in Say It Sushi, a free conveyor-belt sushi game: pick the right Japanese before the plate leaves the lane. No sign-up.
Practice: Greetings & mannersFree · plays in your browserWhat Does Gochisousama Deshita Mean?
In kanji it's written ご馳走様でした. Broken into parts:
| Part | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| ご | go | Polite prefix |
| 馳走 | chisō | A feast. Originally “running around,” as in the effort of going out to gather food for a guest |
| 様 | sama | Honorific, showing respect |
| でした | deshita | Polite past tense, “it was” |
Put together, it's something like “That was a real feast, and thank you for all the effort behind it.” That's why the standard English translation, “thank you for the meal,” is close but a little thin. The thanks reaches everyone involved: the cook, the person who served you, the person who paid, and the people who grew or caught the food.
In daily life, though, most people don't think about the history each time. It's a natural, warm way to close a meal, like saying “thanks, that was great” as you put your chopsticks down.
- ごちそうさまでした
- ありがとう
- ありがとう ございます
How to Pronounce Gochisōsama Deshita
Say it in short, even beats, without stressing any one part the way English does:
| Kana | ご | ち | そう | さ | ま | で | し | た |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Romaji | go | chi | sō | sa | ma | de | shi | ta |
Three things to watch:
- The long ō. そう is held for two beats: “so-o,” not a quick “so.” This is why you see it spelled gochisousama.
- The soft i in deshita. In everyday speech, the i in shi is often barely voiced, so deshita sounds closer to “desh-ta.”
- No strong stress. English speakers tend to punch one syllable, like “go-chi-SO-sa-ma.” Keep it flatter and more even.
A rough English guide: “go-chee-soh-sah-mah desh-tah.” It isn't perfect, but it gets you understood. In the practice game below, listen to the phrase, then say it out loud yourself before the next plate rolls in.
- ごちそうさまでした
- ごちそうさま
When to Say It: Home, Restaurants, and When Someone Treats You
After eating at home
At the table, people say it when they finish, to the person who cooked or just to themselves. Many people say it quietly even when eating alone.
At a restaurant
This is where travelers can use it most. Say ごちそうさまでした to the staff as you pay or as you walk out. At a sushi counter or a small ramen shop, saying it to the chef is common, and it's always well received. You don't need to say it loudly. A nod and a clear “gochisōsama deshita” is enough. If you want to add one more line, おいしかったです (oishikatta desu), “It was delicious,” fits right before it.
When someone pays for you
If a friend, host, or colleague treats you, say ごちそうさまです (gochisōsama desu) or ごちそうさまでした when they pay, or when you part ways. In Japan it's also common to thank the person again the next time you meet: senjitsu wa gochisōsama deshita, “Thanks for the meal the other day.”
| Japanese | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|
| ごちそうさまでした | gochisōsama deshita | Thank you for the meal. |
| ごちそうさまです | gochisōsama desu | Thank you for the meal. (said in the moment, e.g. when someone pays) |
| おいしかったです | oishikatta desu | It was delicious. |
| ありがとう ございます | arigatō gozaimasu | Thank you. (polite) |
- ごちそうさまでした
- ごちそうさまです
- おいしかったです
- ありがとう ございます
Gochisōsama vs. Gochisōsama Deshita vs. Gochisōsama Desu
All three are correct. The difference is how polite they are and when you say them.
| Japanese | Romaji | Use it when |
|---|---|---|
| ごちそうさま | gochisōsama | Casual. With family and friends, or at home. |
| ごちそうさまでした | gochisōsama deshita | Polite, past tense. After the meal is over, at restaurants, to people you don't know well. The safest choice for travelers. |
| ごちそうさまです | gochisōsama desu | Polite, present tense. In the moment, for example as someone picks up the bill for you. |
If you only learn one, learn gochisōsama deshita. It's never too formal and never too casual for a restaurant.
- ごちそうさま
- ごちそうさまでした
- ごちそうさまです
How to Respond to Gochisōsama
What you hear back depends on who you said it to.
| Who | Japanese | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| The cook or host | おそまつさまでした | osomatsusama deshita | It was just a simple meal. (a humble reply, like “oh, it was nothing”) |
| Restaurant staff | ありがとう ございました | arigatō gozaimashita | Thank you (for coming). |
| A friend who paid | いえいえ | ie ie | Not at all. / No problem. |
Osomatsusama deshita (お粗末様でした) is the classic reply from someone who cooked for you. It's humble on purpose: “it was a simple meal.” You'll hear it more at home than in restaurants. If you're the one who cooked, it's a fun one to use on Japanese friends.
At restaurants, staff usually reply with a cheerful arigatō gozaimashita, sometimes followed by mata okoshi kudasai, “Please come again.” You don't need to answer either one. A smile or a small bow closes the moment.
- おそまつさまでした
- ありがとう ございます
What Does Itadakimasu Mean?
いただきます (itadakimasu, 頂きます) is said right before eating. It comes from the verb itadaku, a humble way to say “to receive.” So it means roughly “I humbly receive this,” and it's usually translated as “Let's eat” or “Thank you for this food.” Like gochisōsama, the thanks goes to everyone involved in the meal, and to the food itself.
How to pronounce itadakimasu
Even beats: i-ta-da-ki-mas. The final u is almost silent in natural speech, so it sounds like “ee-tah-dah-kee-mahs.” Don't stretch any of the vowels.
Do you put your hands together?
Many people press their palms together in front of the chest while saying it, especially at home and at school. It's common but not required. Plenty of adults just say it, or say it quietly, and pick up their chopsticks.
- いただきます
- ごちそうさまでした
When to Say Itadakimasu (and When You Don't Need To)
- Before the first bite. At home, with friends, or at a restaurant. At a restaurant, you usually say it quietly at the table. At a counter, some people say it toward the chef as the food arrives, which is a nice touch.
- When someone offers you food or a drink. If a host offers you tea or a snack, itadakimasu works as “I'll gladly have some.” Here it's both acceptance and thanks.
- Not for a toast. When drinks arrive and everyone raises a glass, say かんぱい (kanpai), “Cheers!” If food is already on the table, people usually start with the kanpai, and some also say itadakimasu before the first bite.
- Not for things you can't eat or drink. For gifts or help, use arigatō gozaimasu instead.
When someone offers you seconds, a simple はい (hai), “yes,” plus itadakimasu is a natural way to accept.
- いただきます
- かんぱい
- はい
- ありがとう ございます
More Words for the Table
A few more phrases fit naturally between itadakimasu and gochisōsama.
| Japanese | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|
| おいしい | oishii | Delicious! (casual) |
| おいしいです | oishii desu | It's delicious. (polite) |
| おいしかったです | oishikatta desu | It was delicious. |
| おかわり | okawari | Seconds / a refill |
| かんぱい | kanpai | Cheers! |
Okawari means another helping of the same thing. At some restaurants, rice or miso soup refills are included, and you can ask with okawari onegaishimasu. Whether refills are free depends on the place, so check the menu or ask.
Notice the shift from oishii to oishikatta: present “it's delicious” while eating, past “it was delicious” when you're done. Paired with gochisōsama deshita, it's the most natural way to leave a restaurant. For the full set of ordering phrases, see how to order sushi in Japanese. To ask for the bill, see how to say “check, please” in Japanese.
- おいしい
- おいしいです
- おいしかったです
- おかわり
- かんぱい
FAQ
Is it rude not to say itadakimasu or gochisōsama deshita?
Nobody expects visitors to know them, so skipping them isn't rude. Saying them is noticed and appreciated, though. At a small restaurant, a gochisōsama deshita on the way out often gets a warm reply.
Do I say gochisōsama deshita at a restaurant?
Yes. Japanese customers commonly say it to the staff while paying or leaving, and to the chef at a sushi counter or a small shop. A normal speaking voice is fine.
What's the difference between gochisōsama and gochisōsama deshita?
Gochisōsama is casual and used with family and friends. Gochisōsama deshita is the polite past tense and is the safe choice at restaurants and with people you don't know well.
How do you reply to gochisōsama deshita?
The person who cooked often says osomatsusama deshita (おそまつさまでした), a humble “it was just a simple meal,” a bit like “oh, it was nothing.” Restaurant staff usually say arigatō gozaimashita, “thank you (for coming).”
Should I put my hands together when I say itadakimasu?
You can. Many people do, especially at home and at school, but it isn't required. Saying the word is enough.
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Audio is synthesized with VOICEVOX (voice: 冥鳴ひまり), not a recording of a native speaker. Romaji uses macrons for long vowels (ō, ū).