Hello, I’m Kodak.
If you watch anime, visit a Japanese restaurant, or eat with a Japanese family, you may hear people put their hands together and say:
Itadakimasu!
Which translation is correct?
The literal core is “I humbly receive.”
Before a meal, it expresses gratitude for the food, the lives and natural resources behind it, and the people who helped bring the meal to the table.
いただきます (itadakimasu) is the Japanese phrase said before eating.
Its literal meaning is approximately “I humbly receive”, but natural English translations include:
・Thanks for the food.
・I gratefully receive this meal.
・Let’s eat!
・Time to eat!
・I’m going to dig in.
The best translation depends on the scene.
What Does Itadakimasu Mean in English?
いただきます is a set phrase used at the beginning of a meal. Japanese dictionaries define it as a greeting said when one starts eating.
Literal translation: I humbly receive.
Natural meaning before a meal: I gratefully receive this food.
Common subtitle translation: Let’s eat! / Thanks for the food.
いただきます。
Itadakimasu.
Thanks for the food. / Let’s eat.
Grammatically, each speaker is saying that they will respectfully receive the meal. When everyone says it together, English subtitles may choose “Let’s eat!” because it sounds natural as a group signal.
Itadakimasu Translation: Why There Is No Perfect English Equivalent
English does not have one fixed everyday phrase that performs exactly the same job as いただきます. That is why translators choose different wording depending on the context.
Closest to the grammatical and literal meaning.
“Thanks for the food.”
Clearly communicates gratitude, but sounds more direct than the Japanese wording.
“Let’s eat!”
Natural when a group starts together, but loses the idea of receiving with gratitude.
“Time to dig in!”
Good for an excited, casual anime or meme scene.
“Bon appétit.”
May fit subtitles, but the social direction is different: “bon appétit” wishes others a good meal, while いただきます is said by the person who is about to receive and eat the food.
Both may express gratitude before a meal, but いただきます is not normally a prayer addressed to one particular god. Many Japanese people use it as an everyday cultural and family custom, regardless of personal religion.
The Core Image of Itadakimasu: “Receiving with Respect”
いただきます is the polite -ます form of the verb いただく (itadaku).
to receive humbly
to eat or drink humbly/politely
ます
polite verb ending
いただく + ます → いただきます
“I humbly receive.”
The verb いただく is related to the image of placing something above or on the head. Traditionally, respectfully received objects could be raised toward the head or forehead.
From that image, いただく developed humble meanings such as “to receive from someone” and “to eat or drink.”
Sensei kara hon o itadakimashita.
I received a book from my teacher.
お茶をいただきます。
Ocha o itadakimasu.
I will have some tea.
いただきます。
Itadakimasu.
I gratefully receive this meal.
What Are Japanese People Thanking When They Say Itadakimasu?
The phrase may carry several layers of gratitude at the same time.
Plants, animals, water, soil, and other natural resources made the meal possible.
2. The life behind the food
Eating supports our lives through other living things.
3. The person who cooked
Someone spent time and effort preparing the meal.
4. Everyone involved
Farmers, fishers, producers, transport workers, sellers, and others helped the food reach the table.
5. The opportunity to eat
The phrase can also express appreciation for having a meal available.
Depending on the person and situation, the gratitude may be directed toward the meal, living things, nature, the cook, and everyone who contributed.
Is Itadakimasu Religious?
いただきます can have spiritual or ethical associations, but it is not limited to a single religion.
Respect for nature and gratitude for life are important themes in Japanese food culture. Some explanations connect the custom with Buddhist respect for living things or with older Japanese practices surrounding offerings and the sharing of sacred food.
However, it is safer not to claim that every modern use is a Buddhist prayer or that the phrase has one completely proven religious origin.
いただきます is an everyday expression of respectful gratitude before eating.
It can feel spiritual to some people, but it is also commonly used as a secular family, school, and social custom.
How to Pronounce Itadakimasu
Romaji: itadakimasu
Mora: い・た・だ・き・ま・す (6 morae)
Beginner guide: ee-tah-dah-kee-mah-soo
Japanese rhythm is relatively even. Avoid placing a very strong English-style stress on only one syllable.
In natural speech, the final う sound in す (su) may become very light, so the ending can sound close to “mas”. However, beginners should still think of the full Japanese unit す rather than cutting the word off abruptly.
い・た・だ・き・ま・す
How Do You Write Itadakimasu in Japanese?
Kanji and hiragana: 頂きます / 戴きます
Katakana: イタダキマス
Romaji: itadakimasu
At mealtime, いただきます is normally written entirely in hiragana.
頂きます and 戴きます can represent the verb in kanji, but the familiar meal greeting is usually written いただきます.
イタダキマス may appear in manga, advertising, captions, or memes for visual emphasis, but it is not the standard everyday spelling.
When Do You Say Itadakimasu?
Say いただきます immediately before you begin eating.
The food is served
↓
Everyone is ready
↓
Say いただきます
↓
Begin eating
At Home with Family
みんなそろった？ じゃあ、いただきます。
Minna sorotta? Jā, itadakimasu.
Is everyone here? Okay, let’s eat.
At School
手を合わせて、いただきます。
Te o awasete, itadakimasu.
Put your hands together—itadakimasu.
As a Guest
おいしそうですね。いただきます。
Oishisō desu ne. Itadakimasu.
It looks delicious. Thank you—I’ll enjoy it.
When Eating Alone
いただきます。
Itadakimasu.
Time to eat.
Do You Have to Put Your Hands Together?
Many people place their palms together and make a small bow when saying いただきます. This gesture is especially familiar at home, at school, and in anime.
However, the exact gesture varies. Some people only say the phrase, some make a small nod, and others join their hands more clearly.
When eating with others, simply follow the atmosphere at the table.
Do You Say Itadakimasu at a Restaurant?
You can say it at a restaurant, but you do not need to announce it loudly to the staff.
Say it quietly to yourself or to the people at your table before eating.
Also natural:
Say ありがとうございます when the server brings the food.
After eating:
Say ごちそうさまでした to express appreciation for the meal.
Think of いただきます as marking your grateful acceptance of the meal.
Do You Say Itadakimasu for Snacks, Drinks, or Packaged Food?
Yes, you can. The phrase is not limited to a traditional Japanese dinner.
・a full meal
・a snack someone gives you
・cake or dessert
・tea or coffee served by someone
・a convenience-store lunch
・food you cooked yourself
このクッキー、もらっていい？ いただきます。
Kono kukkī, moratte ii? Itadakimasu.
Can I have this cookie? Thanks—I’ll have it.
では、お茶をいただきます。
Dewa, ocha o itadakimasu.
Then I’ll have some tea.
Itadakimasu vs Gochisousama
These two expressions form a natural pair.
Said before eating.
Core image: I respectfully receive the food.
ごちそうさまでした
Said after eating.
Core meaning: Thank you for the meal and the effort behind it.
But ありがとう, いただきます, and ごちそうさまでした have different jobs:
ありがとう directly thanks a person.
いただきます begins the meal.
ごちそうさまでした closes the meal with appreciation.
Itadakimasu in Anime
Anime often makes the phrase easy to notice because characters pause, put their hands together, and say it clearly before eating.
Let’s eat! / Thanks for the food!
わあ、おいしそう！ いただきます！
Wow, it looks delicious! Time to dig in!
それじゃ、遠慮なくいただきます。
Well then, I’ll gladly help myself.
全部いただきます！
I’ll take/eat it all!
What Does the Itadakimasu Meme Mean?
In memes, GIFs, and social media posts, いただきます often appears with an anime character, animal, or person looking excitedly at food.
・Time to dig in!
・I’m about to devour this.
・This looks amazing!
・Don’t mind if I do.
・I’ll take it!
The joke usually exaggerates the speaker’s excitement or appetite. Because いただく can also mean “to receive” or “to take,” memes sometimes extend it playfully to something desirable that is not literally food.
A suggestive meaning is possible only when the image and context create that joke. The phrase itself is an ordinary and polite mealtime expression.
How to Read an Itadakimasu Meme
⇒ “Time to eat!”
A huge or ridiculous meal
⇒ “I’m going to devour all of this.”
A desirable object rather than food
⇒ Playful “I’ll gladly take that.”
A dramatic anime villain or monster
⇒ A darker joke such as “You’re my meal now,” depending on context.
Can Itadakimasu Mean “I’ll Take It” Outside Meals?
Yes. The verb いただく has broader uses than the fixed mealtime greeting.
Kore o itadakimasu.
I’ll take this. / I’ll have this.
コピーを一部いただけますか。
Kopī o ichibu itadakemasu ka.
Could I receive a copy?
先生に教えていただきました。
Sensei ni oshiete itadakimashita.
I had my teacher kindly explain it to me.
When it is said alone immediately before eating, it is the meal greeting.
When an object or action appears in the sentence, it may mean receive, take, eat, drink, or form a humble request.
Common Beginner Mistakes
Mistake 1: Translating It Only as “Let’s Eat”
“Let’s eat” is a useful subtitle, but the Japanese phrase also carries the idea of respectful receiving and gratitude.
Mistake 2: Saying It After the Meal
After eating: ごちそうさまでした
Mistake 3: Thinking It Is Spoken Only to the Cook
The cook may be included in the gratitude, but the phrase can be said when the cook is absent or when you prepared the meal yourself.
Mistake 4: Treating It as a Mandatory Religious Prayer
It is a widespread cultural mealtime custom. People may attach religious, spiritual, ethical, or simply habitual meaning to it.
Mistake 5: Using the Meme Meaning as the Main Meaning
Online jokes can turn it into “I’ll take it” or “I’m going to devour this,” but the ordinary meaning remains a polite phrase before eating.
Natural Itadakimasu Example Sentences
それでは、いただきます。
Sore dewa, itadakimasu.
Well then, let’s eat.
わあ、おいしそう！ いただきます！
Wā, oishisō! Itadakimasu!
Wow, it looks delicious! Time to dig in!
作ってくれてありがとう。いただきます。
Tsukutte kurete arigatō. Itadakimasu.
Thanks for making this. I’m going to enjoy it.
みんなそろったから、いただきましょう。
Minna sorotta kara, itadakimashō.
Everyone is here, so let’s eat.
遠慮なくいただきます。
Enryo naku itadakimasu.
Thank you—I’ll gladly help myself.
このケーキ、一ついただきます。
Kono kēki, hitotsu itadakimasu.
I’ll have one of these cakes.
温かいうちにいただきましょう。
Atatakai uchi ni itadakimashō.
Let’s eat it while it’s warm.
今日もおいしくいただきました。
Kyō mo oishiku itadakimashita.
I enjoyed the meal today as well.
FAQ About Itadakimasu
What does itadakimasu literally mean?
It literally means approximately “I humbly receive.” It comes from いただく, a humble verb meaning to receive and, in appropriate contexts, to eat or drink.
What is the best itadakimasu translation in English?
There is no perfect fixed translation. Depending on context, natural choices include “Thanks for the food,” “I gratefully receive this meal,” “Let’s eat,” and “Time to dig in.”
Is itadakimasu the same as bon appétit?
Not exactly. Bon appétit wishes another person a good meal, while いただきます is said by the person who is about to receive and eat the food.
Is itadakimasu a prayer?
It can express spiritual gratitude, but it is not normally a prayer addressed to a particular deity. It is widely used as an everyday cultural custom.
Do Japanese people always say itadakimasu?
It is very common, especially in families and schools, but actual habits vary. Not every person says it aloud before every meal.
Can foreigners say itadakimasu?
Yes. Saying it before eating with Japanese people is generally natural and respectful.
Can I say itadakimasu when eating alone?
Yes. Some people say it alone as a personal expression of gratitude or as a signal that the meal is beginning.
Do I need to put my hands together?
No single gesture is mandatory. Joining the palms and making a small bow is common, but saying the phrase naturally is enough.
Is itadakimasu written in kanji?
The verb can be written 頂きます or 戴きます, but the meal greeting is most commonly written in hiragana as いただきます.
What does the itadakimasu meme mean?
It usually means “Time to dig in,” “I’m going to devour this,” or a playful “I’ll take it.” The exact joke depends on the image and context.
What do Japanese people say after eating?
They commonly say ごちそうさまでした (gochisōsama deshita), which expresses appreciation after the meal.
Summary: Itadakimasu Meaning, Translation, and Usage
いただきます is the Japanese greeting said before eating.
● Literal translation
“I humbly receive.”
● Natural English translations
“Thanks for the food,” “Let’s eat,” “Time to dig in,” or “I gratefully receive this meal.”
● Cultural meaning
It can express gratitude toward the food, life, nature, the cook, and everyone involved in producing the meal.
● Religious background
It may carry spiritual associations, but it is not restricted to one religion and is commonly used as a secular custom.
● Writing
Hiragana: いただきます
Kanji: 頂きます / 戴きます
Katakana: イタダキマス
● Meme meaning
Usually “Time to dig in!” or a playful “I’ll take it,” depending on context.
● After the meal
Say ごちそうさまでした.
Remember its core image—respectfully receiving the food—and the different translations will make sense naturally.
References
- Kotobank: 戴きます — dictionary definition of the mealtime greeting.
- Kotobank: 頂く — meanings including placing on the head, humbly receiving, and humbly eating or drinking.
- Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries: Food as the Blessing of Nature and Living Things — gratitude toward life, nature, and the people involved in food.
- Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries: The Meaning of Itadakimasu and Gochisousama.
- National Diet Library Collaborative Reference Database: Etymology of Itadakimasu and Gochisousama.
- National Diet Library Collaborative Reference Database: When Itadakimasu Began to Be Used — notes the difficulty of identifying an exact starting date.