How to Say ‘Thanks.’ in Japanese
ありがとう
arigatou
[ah-ree-gah-toh]
💬 Usage Tip: Casual “thanks.” With strangers, [ありがとうございます] is safer.
🇯🇵 In Japan: In Japan, default politeness is high with strangers, so casual [ありがとう] may sound a bit too buddy-buddy unless the vibe is friendly.
Phrase Breakdown
ありがとう
arigatou
[ah-ree-gah-toh]
thank you (casual)
A casual way to say “thank you,” used with friends, family, or people you’re on friendly terms with. In station/directions situations, you can use it with someone who helped you briefly.
近くの駅を教えてくれて、ありがとう。
Thanks for telling me the nearest station.
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