How to Say ‘Polite expression used with ありがとう’ in Japanese
ございます
gozai masu
[go-zai mahs]
💬 Usage Tip: In [ありがとうございます], [ございます] adds politeness; the whole phrase is best learned as one chunk rather than word-for-word. You'll hear the [が] in fast speech come out nasal, roughly like (arigatō gozaimasu) with a softer middle sound.
Phrase Breakdown
ござい
gozai
[go-zai]
to be; to exist (very polite)
A very polite verb stem used in expressions like ございます. It adds formality when speaking to customers.
こちらにお席がござい ます。
There are seats here.
ます
masu
[mahs]
polite verb ending
A standard polite ending added to verbs, often used in customer service and formal speech.
予約を確認し ます。
I will confirm the reservation.
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