6:31 Lena: Moving from the office to the restaurant—because, let’s be honest, food is a huge part of why people want to learn Japanese—there’s a whole set of expressions that feel almost like a ceremony.
6:42 Miles: You're right. Eating in Japan is a ritual of gratitude. It starts before you even pick up your chopsticks with "Itadakimasu."
6:51 Lena: I’ve seen this in anime all the time. Everyone puts their hands together and says it in unison. What does it actually mean?
6:57 Miles: The literal translation is "I humbly receive." But it goes deeper than just receiving food. It’s an expression of gratitude to the plants, the animals, the farmers, the person who cooked it—everything that allowed this meal to exist. It’s a moment of mindfulness.
2:05 Lena: I love that. It turns a routine act into something spiritual. And the pronunciation?
7:20 Miles: "Ee-tah-dah-kee-mahs." Again, that silent "u" at the end. And the counterpart, when you’re finished, is "Gochisousama deshita."
7:29 Lena: That one is a mouthful! "Go-chee-so-sah-mah desh-tah."
7:34 Miles: You got it. It means "It was a feast" or "Thank you for the meal." You say it to the person who cooked, or even to the staff at a restaurant as you’re walking out. It’s the bookend to "Itadakimasu." It completes the circle of gratitude.
7:48 Lena: So, if I’m at a ramen shop and the chef is right there, I should say "Gochisousama deshita" as I leave?
7:54 Miles: Definitely. It’s a huge compliment. And if you want to be even more direct while you’re eating, you can just say "Oishii!" which means "Delicious!" Chefs love hearing that. It creates a great atmosphere in the shop.
8:06 Lena: "Oishii!" I can remember that. But what about the actual mechanics of ordering? I’m always worried I’ll freeze up when the waiter comes over.
8:14 Miles: Don't stress! The most important phrase for ordering is "Kore o kudasai." It literally means "This one, please." You can point at a picture on the menu or a display case and say "Kore o kudasai." It’s "Ko-reh oh koo-dah-sigh."
8:30 Lena: "Kore o kudasai." That sounds simple enough. "Kore" is "this," right?
3:52 Miles: Exactly. And if you want to be a bit more polite, you can say "Kore o onegaishimasu." "Onegaishimasu" is the polite word for "please" when you’re making a request.
8:46 Lena: So "Kore o kudasai" is like "I'll have this," and "Kore o onegaishimasu" is "I'd like this, please"?
8:53 Miles: Precisely. Now, if you’re looking for something specific, like water, you’d say "O-mizu o kudasai." "Mizu" is water, and adding the "O" at the beginning makes it polite.
9:05 Lena: "O-mizu o kudasai." What if I need the bill?
9:09 Miles: "O-kaikei onegaishimasu." Or, if you want to be a bit more casual, "O-kanjou onegaishimasu." But "O-kaikei" is very common. You can also make an "X" shape with your index fingers—that’s the universal non-verbal sign for "check please" in Japan.
9:23 Lena: Oh, that’s a great backup! I’ve seen people do that. It’s good to have a gesture to fall back on if the words fail.
9:30 Miles: For sure. And since we’re talking about restaurants, we should mention dietary restrictions. Japan is getting better with this, but it’s still helpful to have the phrases. If you’re vegetarian, you say "Bejitarian desu." If you have an allergy, it’s "Arerugii ga arimasu."
9:45 Lena: "Arerugii ga arimasu." And I should probably specify what the allergy is. Like "Sakana" for fish?
6:20 Miles: Right. "Sakana arerugii ga arimasu." Or if you want something without meat, you can say "Niku nashi de." "Nashi" means "without."
10:02 Lena: "Niku nashi de." That’s really helpful. It feels like these phrases are all about being clear but also very polite.
10:10 Miles: That’s the balance. You’re navigating a space where everyone is trying to be helpful, so using these phrases shows you’re meeting them halfway. Even if your pronunciation isn't perfect, the effort is what counts.
10:22 Lena: I’ve noticed that in the materials we’re looking at—there’s a big emphasis on "polite forms" first. Like using "desu" and "masu."
5:21 Miles: Yes, absolutely. For a beginner, sticking to the "desu" and "masu" endings is the safest way to go. It’s polite enough for almost every situation—shops, restaurants, talking to strangers, or even colleagues. You won't offend anyone.
10:44 Lena: And later on, once you have friends, you can learn the casual versions, but for now, the polite form is the foundation.
3:52 Miles: Exactly. It’s like wearing a nice outfit. It shows you respect the person you’re talking to. And in a culture like Japan's, that respect opens so many doors.
11:02 Lena: It’s interesting how "Daijoubu" fits into this too. I see it on every list. It means "It’s okay," right?
11:09 Miles: "Daijoubu" is another multi-purpose word. "Daijoubu desu" can mean "I’m fine," "No thank you," or "It’s okay." If a clerk asks if you need a bag, you can say "Daijoubu desu" with a little wave of your hand to mean "No thanks, I’m good."
11:24 Lena: "Daijoubu desu." It’s so versatile. It’s like "Sumimasen" in that way—it covers so much ground.
11:31 Miles: It really does. And if you’re asking if something is okay—like, can I sit here?—you just add "ka" to make it a question: "Daijoubu desu ka?"
11:40 Lena: "Daijoubu desu ka?" I can see myself using that one a lot. It’s a very gentle way to ask for permission or check on someone.
7:54 Miles: Definitely. It’s all part of that "Nagomi"—the Japanese way of finding harmony and balance in everything, including conversation.