🙏😊

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 ta]

💬 Usage Tip: The past-tense ました ending thanks someone for help that's now finished, so it's the natural line as you leave the counter. Use ありがとうございます while the help is still going on.

Phrase Breakdown

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 exist; polite support word

Part of the polite phrase for thanking someone formally.

Example

本日はお時間をいただき、ありがとうございます。

Thank you for giving me your time today.

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

[ta]

past tense

Indicates the past tense of a verb.

Example

昨日、映画を見ました。

I watched a movie yesterday.

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