How to Say ‘Thank you very much.’ in Japanese
ありがとうございました。
arigatou gozai mashi ta
[arigatou goh-zah-ee mah-shee ta]
💬 Usage Tip: The past form ました thanks someone for something already finished, like a consultation. Use ございます for thanks before or during a service.
Phrase Breakdown
ありがとう
arigatou
[arigatou]
thank you
A common casual way to say thank you.
案内をありがとう。
Thank you for the guidance.
ござい
gozai
[goh-zah-ee]
to be; to exist (polite part of expression)
A polite verb stem used in set phrases like greetings to sound respectful.
あいさつでは、ございをていねいに言います。
In greetings, you say gozai politely.
まし
mashi
[mah-shee]
polite past marker
まし is part of the polite past form ました.
働きましたのましは丁寧な過去です。
The 'mashi' in hatarakimashita is polite past.
た
ta
[ta]
past tense marker
Converts to past tense.
食べた。
I ate.
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