🙏😊🤝

How to Say ‘Thank you, too, for being so considerate.’ in Japanese

こちらこそ、ご丁寧にありがとうございました。

kochira koso go teinei ni arigatou gozai mashi ta

[koh-CHEE-rah koh-soh goh TAY-nay nee ah-ree-gah-toh goh-zah-ee mah-shee tah]

🇯🇵 In Japan: Ending with mutual thanks, even after a disagreement, is how Japanese exchanges smooth things over. Both sides leave having kept face.

Phrase Breakdown

こちらこそ、

kochira koso

the same to you / I'm the one who should say that

A polite reply that returns thanks or an apology. こそ adds emphasis. Pause at the comma.

Example

こちらこそ、よろしくお願いします。

Likewise, I look forward to working with you.

Words in this phrase

こちら

kochira

[koh-CHEE-rah]

I; we; our side

Polite word for 'this side', used to refer to oneself.

Example

こちらこそよろしく。

Nice to meet you too.

こそ

koso

[koh-soh]

(it is) you who; precisely (emphasis)

Adds emphasis meaning “rather, me/us.” Makes the reply modest and polite.

Example

お気遣いありがとうございます。こちらこそ。

Thank you for your consideration. Likewise.

ご丁寧に

go teinei ni

so politely / so kindly

丁寧 (teinei) means 'polite' or 'courteous', and ご adds respect. Say 'tei' like 'tay'.

Example

ご丁寧にどうも。

Thank you for your courtesy.

Words in this phrase

ご

[goh]

polite prefix (adds respect)

Honorific prefix used to make a noun more polite. Common in neighbor-related phrases to sound considerate.

Example

ご近所の方には、いつでも言ってくださいと伝えました。

I told the neighbors, “Please tell me anytime.”

丁寧

teinei

[TAY-nay]

polite; courteous; careful

Na-adjective meaning polite or thorough; with に it works as an adverb.

Example

丁寧に説明してくれた。

They explained it carefully.

に

[nee]

(adverb ending)

Particle turning a na-adjective into an adverb.

Example

静かに話してください。

Please speak quietly.

ありがとうございました。

arigatou gozai mashi ta

thank you very much

The past form, used to thank someone for something already done. Keep the rhythm even: 'a-ri-ga-tou go-za-i-ma-shi-ta'.

Example

今日はありがとうございました。

Thank you for today.

Words in this phrase

ありがとう

arigatou

[ah-ree-gah-toh]

thank you

A common way to say thank you.

Example

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 (very polite)

A very polite version of あります, often used by staff in restaurants and hotels.

Example

駐車場がございます。

There is a parking lot.

まし

mashi

[mah-shee]

polite past stem

Part of the polite past ending in a verb phrase.

Example

昨日は多くのことを学びました。

I learned many things yesterday.

た

[tah]

past tense ending

This ending completes the polite past tense form.

Example

空席がございました。

There were vacant seats.

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