What do you say before eating in Japanese?

Before every bite in Japan, there’s gratitude. 🙏
Not just for the food, but for every hand that made the meal possible.
❌ たべます (tabe masu)
❌ ごめんなさい (go men na sai)
❌ これで終わりだ (kore de owari da)
✅ いただきます (itadakimasu) — the humble way to say “I gratefully receive.”
Japanese mealtime manners aren’t just polite—they’re deeply meaningful. 🍱✨