Itadakimasu

Hello, I am Midori.

I will introduce another Japanese word again.

It is いただきます（Itadakimasu）.

It has two uses.

First, it is a phrase used before we have a meal.

いただきます（Itadakimasu） comes from " I eat the life of plants and animals for my life. " 　

In foreign countries, there are often religious phrases spoken at mealtime , but this is the Japanese peculiar greeting.

いただきます（Itadakimasu） expresses -

1. gratitude for the food.

2. thanks for the great pains to prepare the food.

3. pious feelings for having a meal.

I think it is a splendid side of Japanese food culture.

There is also けんじょうご（Kenjougo） from もらう（Morau）- be given,　たべる（Taberu）- eat and のむ（Nomu）- drink

けんじょうご（Kenjougo） is a part of けいご（Keigo）― term of respect of the person or thing referred to.　

The speaker humbly speaks about oneself or the nearby thing .

Therefore, you can relatively express your respect for a companion.

けいご（Keigo） also has そんけいご（Sonkeigo）－ honorific language and ていねいご（Teineigo）－ polite language.

けいご（Keigo） is used when you talk your superiors, for example a boss .

It is often used for business.

A lot of Japanese people make mistake when using it or can't handle good it .

What a complicated language Japanese is!