ご馳走様でした

Japanese

Japanese phrasebook

This entry is part of the phrasebook project, which presents criteria for inclusion based on utility, simplicity and commonness.

Kanji in this term
馳	走	様
ち Jinmeiyō	そう Grade: 2	さま Grade: 3
kan’on		kun’yomi

Alternative spellings
ご馳走樣でした (kyūjitai) 御馳走様でした ご馳走様 (shortened)

Etymology

Phrase composed of 御 (go, honorific prefix) +‎ 馳走 (chisō, “treat, banquet, feast”) +‎ 様 (sama, honorific suffix) +‎ でした (deshita, “was”, polite past-tense form of the copula だ (da)). Literally, “it was a feast”.

Pronunciation

• (Tokyo) ごちそーさまでした [gòchísóósámá déshítá] (Heiban – [0])
• IPA^(key): [ɡo̞t͡ɕi̥so̞ːsa̠ma̠ de̞ɕi̥ta̠]

Phrase

ご馳(ち)走(そう)様(さま)でした • (go-chisō-sama deshita) 

1. it was delicious

Usage notes

• This is a stock phrase required by Japanese etiquette at the end of a meal.
• At the start of a meal, Japanese speakers say 頂(いただ)きます (itadakimasu).