ご馳走 (feast, hospitality meal)

A meal prepared with effort for guests — more than just food, the Japanese concept of ご馳走 (御馳走) implies hospitality, generosity, and a special occasion. The kanji 馳走 literally mean 'running about,' a metaphor for the host going to great trouble to provide the meal. Lives in the everyday formula ごちそうさまでした ('thank you for the meal'), said in thanks after eating, and ごちそうする ('to treat someone to a meal').