🙏😊

How to Say ‘Thank you too.’ in Japanese

こちらこそ、ありがとうございました。

kochira koso arigatou gozai mashi ta

[koh-chee-rah koh-soh ah-ree-gah-toh goh-zah-ee mah-shee tah]

💬 Usage Tip: こちらこそ (kochira koso) means "I'm the one who should say so" and turns any thanks or apology back to the other person. It also works with よろしくお願いします.

Phrase Breakdown

こちらこそ、

kochira koso

No, it is I who should say that

Used to return thanks or a greeting politely. Say ko-chi-ra-ko-so with even rhythm.

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]

this; this one; here

A polite demonstrative used when presenting something nearby.

Example

在留カードはこちらです。

Here is the residence card.

こそ

koso

[koh-soh]

indeed; likewise

Emphasizes that the feeling is mutual.

Example

こちらこそ、ありがとうございます。

No, thank you as well.

ありがとうございました。

arigatou gozai mashi ta

Thank you very much (for what you did)

The past form of thanks, used after a service is finished. The 'u' in 'tou' lengthens the 'o'.

Example

今日はありがとうございました。

Thank you very much 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 (polite part of expression)

A polite verb stem used in set phrases like greetings to sound respectful.

Example

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 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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