ご馳走・御馳走|ごちそうgochisou[0]heiban (flat)
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Which spelling to use
ご馳走ご馳走, which combines kanji and kana, is the most common written form; beginners should use it when writing.
御馳走御馳走 is a less common form written entirely in kanji. Recognize it when encountered, but beginners should choose ご馳走 instead.
Definitions
- noun, suru verb, transitive verbtreat (esp. food and drink); entertainment; treating someone (to a meal); taking someone to dinner
- noungorgeous dinner; feast; excellent food; special dish; delicacy
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | ご馳走する（ごちそうする） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | ご馳走します（ごちそうします） |
| Negative (nai) | ご馳走しない（ごちそうしない） |
| polite (masen) | ご馳走しません（ごちそうしません） |
| classical zu / nu | ご馳走せず・ご馳走せぬ（ごちそうせず・ごちそうせぬ） |
| Past (ta) | ご馳走した（ごちそうした） |
| polite (mashita) | ご馳走しました（ごちそうしました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | ご馳走しなかった（ごちそうしなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | ご馳走しませんでした（ごちそうしませんでした） |
| Te form | ご馳走して（ごちそうして） |
| Potential | ご馳走できる（ごちそうできる） |
| Passive | ご馳走される（ごちそうされる） |
| Causative | ご馳走させる（ごちそうさせる） |
| Causative passive | ご馳走させられる（ごちそうさせられる） |
| Conditional (ba) | ご馳走すれば（ごちそうすれば） |
| tara | ご馳走したら（ごちそうしたら） |
| Volitional | ご馳走しよう（ごちそうしよう） |
| polite (mashou) | ご馳走しましょう（ごちそうしましょう） |
| Imperative | ご馳走しろ（ごちそうしろ） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym饗応きょうおうWrittenWritten word for treating someone to food and drink, as in 「饗応を受ける」; news reports also use it for improper wining and dining.
- Synonym接待せったいFormalFormal term for entertaining guests, often in business contexts, as in 「接待ゴルフ」.
- Synonym馳走ちそうNeutralThe same word without the honorific prefix 「ご」; outside 「ご馳走様」 it now appears mostly in written prose.
- Synonym饗するきょうするWrittenWritten term for hosting a feast or treating guests; carries an old-fashioned, literary flavor.
- Related振舞うふるまうNeutralTo treat someone to food or drink, as in 「酒を振舞う」; stresses generous, open-handed sharing.
- RelatedもてなすNeutralTo entertain guests, as in 「客をもてなす」; centers on the host's warm hospitality rather than the meal itself.
- Related佳肴かこうWrittenWritten word for exquisite dishes, as in 「美酒佳肴」; names the fine food itself, not the act of treating.
- Related遇するぐうするWrittenWritten word for treating or receiving a person, as in 「客として遇する」; about how someone is handled, not the food.
- Antonym粗食そしょくNeutralThe opposite of 「ご馳走」: plain, simple meals, as in 「粗食に耐える」.
For treating someone or a fine meal, 「ご馳走」 is the default. Use 「もてなす」 for warm hospitality, 「振舞う」 for treating someone to food or drink, 「接待」 for business entertainment, and 「饗応」 for wining and dining in written prose. 「粗食」 is the opposite: plain, simple fare.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
See also
