Hello, I am Yoshi from NILS Japanese language school. Today’s phrase in Japanese is Itadakimasu いただきます (literally means, “I humbly accept.”). You will frequently hear this phrase when you have meals with the Japanese people. You try to use it as we do.

Itadakimasu いただきます is a greeting regularly used at the beginning of a meal. It is an expression of gratitude for the food one is about to eat. To start a meal without this salutation is bad manners at home and unforgivable when visiting someone’s house.
Although at one’s own home Itadakimasu is only used to start a meal, it may be used by a person visiting somone’s house to acknowledge some food or drink that does not necessarily constitute a meal. A polite visitor, for instance, may say Itadakimasu just for a cup of tea.
Since Itadakimasu literally means “I humbly accept,” it may also be used when accepting a present from a non-family member of hight status.

March 14th News, from NILS Japanese langauge school.