(Joy cheerfully saying Let’s eat [Social Action] vs. Ken pressing his hands together saying Itadakimasu [Humble Gratitude])
“Okay everyone, time to eat!” -> Let’s eat / 食べましょう (Tabemashou) (Social Action)
“Thank you for this meal.” -> いただきます (Itadakimasu) (Humble Gratitude)
If you watch anime or Japanese dramas, you know that everyone says いただきます (Itadakimasu) before eating. English subtitles almost always translate this as “Let’s eat!” or “Thanks for the food.” However, the true meaning goes much deeper than a simple dinner bell. Let’s see what happens when Director Tanaka treats Joy and Ken to a nice sushi lunch.
🗣 Conversation Scene
Director Tanaka has brought the team to a sushi restaurant to celebrate a successful project.
(Good work, everyone. Well then, let’s eat while it’s fresh.)
(Yay! I’m starving. “Tabemashou!” [Let’s eat!])
[ Joy grabs her chopsticks immediately. Ken stops her to share a cultural rule. ]
(Joy, in Japan, we press our hands together and say “Itadakimasu” before eating. It is to show gratitude to the lives given and the people who made it.)
💡 Explanation
Social Action vs. Humble Gratitude
“Let’s eat” is directed at the people at the table (a call to action). いただきます (Itadakimasu) is directed at the food and nature (a humble prayer of thanks).
1. Let’s eat = 食べましょう (Tabemashou) 🍽️
Focus: The Event and the People.
In English, “Let’s eat” or “Dig in” simply means the food is ready and the social event of eating can begin. You wouldn’t say “Let’s eat” if you were sitting alone in your room eating a sandwich, because there is no one to talk to. In Japanese, 食べましょう (Tabemashou) has this exact same social meaning.
2. いただきます (Itadakimasu) = I humbly receive 🌾
Focus: Sacrifice and Gratitude.
Grammatically, “Itadakimasu” is the Humble Language (Kenjougo) form of the verb morau (to receive). It literally means “I humbly receive.” When you say this, you are lowering yourself to show respect to two things:
1. The lives given: The animals, fish, and plants that sacrificed their lives to become your meal.
2. The hard work: The farmers, fishermen, truck drivers, and chefs who brought the food to your plate.
Because you are thanking nature and the food itself, Japanese people say Itadakimasu even when they are eating completely alone!
📊 Comparison Table
💎 The Etiquette of the Hands
While saying Itadakimasu, the proper etiquette is to press your palms together in front of your chest (like a prayer) and bow your head slightly. However, in busy business lunches, a polite nod of the head while quietly saying “Itadakimasu” is perfectly acceptable.
🔥 Practice Quiz
Tap to check the answer!
