How do you say "Thank you (for something)." in Japanese?

"Thank you (for something)." in Japanese is "ありがとうございます。". This phrase is commonly used in Japan.

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How to Say ‘Thank you (for something).’ in Japanese

Q: What does "ありがとうございます。" mean in English?

"ありがとうございます。" means "Thank you (for something)." in English. Usage tip: [ありがとうございます] is polite and standard. For extra formality (like interviews), you may hear [ありがとうございます] said clearly and slowly.

ありがとうございます。

arigatou gozai masu

[ah-ree-gah-toh goh-zah-ee mah-soo]

💬 Usage Tip: [ありがとうございます] is polite and standard. For extra formality (like interviews), you may hear [ありがとうございます] said clearly and slowly.

🇯🇵 In Japan: In interviews, thanking for the other person’s time is expected. Pair it with a slight bow to sound professional.

Phrase Breakdown

ありがとう

arigatou

[ah-ree-gah-toh]

thank you (casual base)

The base of “ありがとうございます.” By itself it’s more casual; in job interviews, use the full polite expression.

Example

面接の最初に、来ていただいて「ありがとう」と言うのは少しカジュアルです。

At the start of an interview, saying just “arigatou” for “thank you for coming” is a bit casual.

ござい

gozai

[goh-zah-ee]

(part of polite phrase)

This attaches to make the polite set phrase “ありがとうございます.” It isn’t usually used alone in modern speech.

Example

面接では「ござい」を含む「ありがとうございます」を使うと丁寧です。

In interviews, using “arigatou gozaimasu,” which includes “gozai,” is polite.

ます

masu

[mah-soo]

(polite ending)

Polite verb ending. In set phrases like “ありがとうございます,” it makes the expression formal and appropriate for interviews.

Example

面接では丁寧に「ます」を使って話します。

In interviews, you speak politely using “-masu.”

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