A question

ninjacatman · 3 Nov 2008

Hi all,
I just wanted to ask about some things in Japanese.
There are phrases in Japanese that are used when a
person is about to do something. Like when one is about
to eat. Are these statements religious? I know they might
just be cultural now, but if they were buddist phrases or
something like that, then, as a Christian...I can not use them.

Koryo · 3 Nov 2008

Before eating, いただきます【itadakimasu】 is often said. The word simply conveys thankfulness when receiving something. It can be used when receiving from anyone, whether a teacher, God, or your next door neighbor. In other words, there is no direct religious connection.

If I'm in a meeting and the host offers me a doughnut, in Japanese I'd say いただきます as I take it from the plate. In English, I'd say, "Thank you."

You might come across a few other phrases used when eating, but I'm not aware of any with direct religion connotations.

Other example uses of the word:
これをいただいてありがとうございます。
【kore wo itadaite arigatou gozaimasu】
Thank you for giving me this. (In English it conveys both the thanks and the fact that "this" was given to you.)

先日、手伝っていただいてありがとうございます。
【senjitu, tetsudate itadaite arigatou gozaimasu】
Thank you for giving me a hand the other day.

miya · 3 Nov 2008

Explanation of Koryo of "いただく" is right.
However, the meanings of before a meal "いただきます【itadakimasu】" differ exceptionally.
before a meal "いただきます【itadakimasu】" and after a meal "ごちそうさま【gotisousama】"is strongly influenced by Buddhistic.

Toritoribe · 4 Nov 2008

Koryo said:
これをいただいてありがとうございます。
【kore wo itadaite arigatou gozaimasu】
Thank you for giving me this. (In English it conveys both the thanks and the fact that "this" was given to you.)

When reciving something, except using as the compound verb like 手伝っていただく/助けていただく, probably いただきまして(itadakimashite) would be more commonly used with ありがとうございます(arigatou gozaimasu).

先日は結構なものをいただきましてありがとうございます。
Senjitsu wa kekkouna mono wo itadakimashite arigatou gozaimasu.

Or you can also say "itadaite" without "arigatou gozaimasu."

先日は結構なものをいただいて…
Senjitsu wa kekkouna mono wo itadaite...

miya said:
Explanation of Koryo of "いただく" is right.
However, the meanings of before a meal "いただきます【itadakimasu】" differ exceptionally.
before a meal "いただきます【itadakimasu】" and after a meal "ごちそうさま【gotisousama】"is strongly influenced by Buddhistic.

The origin of itadakimasu and gochisousama.

itadakimasu
戴きます／頂きます／いただきます - 語源由来辞典

gochisousama
ご馳走／御馳走／ごちそう - 語源由来辞典

It seems no relationship with Buddhism.

ninjacatman · 4 Nov 2008

Thanks guys, I'm glad I clarified this.

miya · 4 Nov 2008

The origin of a word of "いただきます" is not so important.
「いただきます」の語源はさほど重要ではない。
Succession of the life by meal is important.
重要なのは、食による命の継承です。
"I will make your life into my life."
「あなたの命を私の命にさせていただきます。」
In recent years, the religious meaning is lost even in Japan.
近年、日本でも宗教的な意味が失われています。
If a price is paid, those who think that there is no necessity for gratitude are increasing in number.
代金を払えば感謝の必要は無いと考える人が増えています。
They have made a mistake in the partner of gratitude.
彼らは感謝の相手を間違っています。
This problem is argued even in Japan in recent years.
この問題は近年、日本でも論争になっています。
I do not have enough posts yet to add URLs to third-party websites.
If possible, please search "いただきます" with google of Japan.

Glenn · 4 Nov 2008

And here I thought this thread was going to be about ～するところだ/～しようとする.

Toritoribe · 4 Nov 2008

Glenn said:
And here I thought this thread was going to be about ～するところだ/～しようとする.

宗教性と仏教性。深そうな沼ですねぇ。

Glenn · 4 Nov 2008

確かにそうみたいですね。「いただきます」にそんな悩みがあろうと、思ってもみなかったな〜。

undrentide · 4 Nov 2008

ははは。
たいていの日本人は「いただきます」って言うときには別になにも考えてないですよね。
少なくとも私は目の前のごはんのこと以外頭にないもん。(笑)

ninjacatman · 5 Nov 2008

Hi all, I just wanted to ask, about 'igasimas', does adding it to ANY
statement make the statement more polite? and I think I've heard
other versions too. (once again PLEASE do not reply with Japanese
letters or Chinese Characters, the computer I'm using does NOT recognize them)

ninjacatman · 5 Nov 2008

OH yeah, and what is the difference between igasimasu and gaziamasu

undrentide · 5 Nov 2008

ninjacatman said:
OH yeah, and what is the difference between igasimasu and gaziamasu

Igasimasu?? Gaziamasu???
They do not make sense in Japanese.
Maybe they are "itashimasu" and "gozaimasu"?

For your info, "itashimasu" is a very polite form of "shimasu/suru".
"Gozaimasu" is a very polite form of "desu/da" or "arimasu/aru".

ninjacatman · 5 Nov 2008

thanks, I'll try to remember that.

Glenn · 6 Nov 2008

undrentide said:
"Gozaimasu" is a very polite form of "desu/da" or "arimasu/aru".

Shouldn't that be de gozaimasu for desu/da?

undrentide · 6 Nov 2008

Glenn said:
Shouldn't that be de gozaimasu for desu/da?

Oh, yes. You're right!

A question

ninjacatman

先輩

Koryo

窶愿ｺ窶怒ﾅ津ｪﾆ棚ﾆ耽ﾆ誰

miya

後輩

Toritoribe

松葉解禁

ninjacatman

先輩

miya

後輩

Glenn

一切皆苦

Toritoribe

松葉解禁

Glenn

一切皆苦

undrentide

Japa'n vagyok

ninjacatman

先輩

ninjacatman

先輩

undrentide

Japa'n vagyok

ninjacatman

先輩

Glenn

一切皆苦

undrentide

Japa'n vagyok

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