How to explain "itadakimasu" to forigners?

[euske]

I think "Itadakimasu (いただきます)" is one of the important phrases that define Japanese mindset. Here in the U.S., I am still trying to say itadakimasu whenever eating something. People sometimes ask me "what's that?" and I try to explain it as a greeting to the food. But I found it awkward. I think it has a bit religious meaning. Since I'm a Buddhist, I could explain it as thanks to the lives they sacrificed for us. But I'd like to make it not sound too much religious, because people in Japan say this word regardless of their religion.

So I'd like to hear other people's opinions. For Japanese readers, how would you explain "itadakimasu" to foreigners? For non-Japanese readers, what is your understanding about this word? Please forgive me if this question is inappropriate to this forum.

[nice gaijin]

I equate it to giving thanks for the food or drink which you are about to receive. It is a humbling form of not only the verbs for eating and drinking, but also receiving. If I had to give a name to it that most Americans would understand, I'd call it "saying grace" but it doesn't have quite the same religious connotations.

[strongvoicesforward]

=I will graciously/humbly receive this.

[Da Monstar]

In Denmark we have a similar word. its "Velbekommen" but are commonly used to wish someone a good apetite, or hope that the food will taste them.
But yes I will agree with strongvoicesforward on the translation part. It seems obvious and good.

[yukio_michael]

Strongvoicesfoward gave a pretty apt description/usable translation, though I myself like to think of it the way the original poster posed it... However, I think most people in Japan, especially younger people, do think of it the way S.V.F. described it, an idiomatic phrase, much like "ohayo---".

Anyways, itadakimasu, gochisousama deshita, otsukare sama (deshita), & osomatsusama, are all very imporant words in Japan, and will always earn you a better reputation with their usage.

[Kyoko_desu]

日本語の敬語には次の３種類があります。
1）丁寧語 (teinei go) - polite form
2）尊敬語 (sonkei go) - respecting form
3）謙譲語 (kenjyou go) - humbling form
「いただきます」は「食べます」の謙譲語です。
そして、「食べます」は「食べる」の丁寧語なんです。
（ちなみに、「食べる」の尊敬語は「召し上がる」です 。）
「いただきます」というのは、私の考えでは、
「私は今からこのごちそうをいただきます。」という文 を省略したものだと思います。
nice gaijinさんがおっしゃったように、敬語を使うことによ り、食べ物に対する感謝の気持ちを表している言葉だと 思います。　
宗教的な意味があるということは、恥ずかしながら日本 人なのに知りませんでした。勉強になりました！
それから、英語で説明できなくてごめんなさい！:p

[yukio_michael]

how about... An expression of gratitude before meals... pretty sucinct.

[Mamoru-kun]

With all due respect, I think that you are, as most of us "westerners", try too hard to find a " deep meaning" into those kind of sentences. "Itadakimau" is just, as Kyoko stated, a polite form of "I'm eating", or "I'll eat now". It's what I finally became to "feel" after years of meats with my wife (and even with her parents). I don't deny the fact that one can put strong feelings in that sentence, but the fact is that a lot of (if not the most) japanese people will hear it simply as a "I'm eating!" phrase, at which they will just answer "Please do so!" (Douzo!) ;-)

Where it came from, and why it's polite to say it before eating, that is another question I cannot answer ;-)

[Gaijinian]

You’re in New York, so who's the "foreigner" you speak of?
アメリカにいるから、『外人』が誰のことですか？相手 のアメリカ人？？
面倒くさい。日本人はどこの国にいても、相手が日本人 じゃなかったら『外人』と呼びます・・・。ナゼ？この場合、外人なのは、アナタですよ〜
このスレを「日本語ができない人には「いただきます」 という言葉の使い方をどう説明すればいいのかな？」と 、タイトルしたらわかるんですが・・・。ね
私は、宗教に信じる人じゃない（でも、どんどん仏教徒 になっている）のに、日本にいた時、いつも食べる前に 「いただきます」と言っておきました・・・。やっぱり 、宗教的な言葉じゃあまりないですよね・・・。皆さん の通りですけれど、単にこう説明したらいいと思います ：「食べる前にいう言葉です」だけで。・・・どう？

[yukio_michael]

After looking at the original poster's profile, seeing that their nationality is that of 日本人, is it as said, really apt, or even polite, to call others 'foreigner' while you're in their country...?

[strongvoicesforward]

After looking at the original poster's profile, seeing that their nationality is that of 日本人, is it as said, really apt, or even polite, to call others 'foreigner' while you're in their country...? I totally missed this from the orignal post.

Excellent point!

I can`t believe I didn`t catch this. This has always been one of the things I have found ugly about Japanese -- that no matter where they are in the world, they do not think of themselves as foreignors. The whole world except for Japan is a foreign world and all people in other lands are foreignors regardless of where the Japanese person is commenting on people of different nationalities.

Good eye Yukio -- but some may say you are splitting hairs or "lawyerizing" the thread/issue. But, not me. You are dead on.

[yukio_michael]

Good eye Yukio -- but some may say you are splitting hairs or "lawyerizing" the thread/issue. But, not me. You are dead on.To be honest I only noticed after gaijinian pointed it out... but it had an equal effect on me.

By the way, are you recently (back) in Japan, or did you just recently change your jref flag!? : )

[strongvoicesforward]

By the way, are you recently (back) in Japan, or did you just recently change your jref flag!? : )

Who me?

I`ve always been in Japan. When I first became a member I filled out the registration form real fast and for some reason I was just thinking nationality and not residence, so I had chose an American flag. After about a month when I started posting a few things in the Japanese Forum section, I think admin ran a trace on my IP and saw I was in Japan and then they changed it themselves -- which is good because that is what it should have been.

[yukio_michael]

Maybe my memory is just failing me... oh crap.

[euske]

Yes, I thought the use of the word "foreigner" was a bit questionable, but I didn't want to say "non-japanese speakers" because it looks lengthy, and I didn't know this is such a sensitive issue. Sorry. I'll try to be careful of using this word next time.

[Gaijinian]

Good deal 1234567123456789 (my post was too short...)