How to Say ‘Thank you very much.’ in Japanese
ありがとうございました。
arigatou gozai mashi ta
[ah-ree-gah-toh goh-zah-ee mah-shee tah]
💬 Usage Tip: The past ending ました thanks someone for something that's finished. Use ございます instead for ongoing or upcoming help.
Phrase Breakdown
ありがとう
arigatou
[ah-ree-gah-toh]
thank you
A common way to say thank you.
ありがとう、助かります。
Thank you, that helps.
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 part
まし is part of the polite past ending in ました.
予約をましました。
I made the reservation.
た
ta
[tah]
past tense ending
This ending completes the polite past tense form.
空席がございまし た。
There were vacant seats.
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