How to Say ‘Thank you for coming today.’ in Japanese
本日はお越しいただきありがとうございます。
honjitsu wa o koshi itadaki arigatou gozai masu
[hone-jeet-soo wah oh koh-shee ee-tah-dah-kee ah-ree-gah-toh goh-zah-ee mahss]
💬 Usage Tip: A very standard interview opener. The structure is [本日は] + [お越しいただき] + [ありがとうございます]. For clearer pronunciation, keep [ありがとうございます] crisp: (ah-ree-gah-toh goh-zah-ee-mahs).
🇯🇵 In Japan: Even though the interviewer invited you, both sides still exchange thanks. This mutual politeness helps set a respectful tone before the real questions begin.
Phrase Breakdown
本日は
honjitsu wa
Today (formal)
「本日（ほんじつ）」 is a very formal way to say 「今日」. 「は」 marks the topic: “As for today…”. Common in greetings, announcements, business.
本日は晴天なり。
Today is clear weather.
Words in this phrase
本日
honjitsu
[hone-jeet-soo]
today (formal)
Formal “today,” used in polite greetings at interviews/meetings.
本日はお越しいただきありがとうございます。
Thank you for coming today.
は
wa
[wah]
topic marker; as for
Marks “today” as the topic in this standard greeting.
本日はお時間をいただきありがとうございます。
Thank you for taking the time today.
お越しいただき
o koshi itadaki
for coming (honorific) / having come
Honorific + humble set phrase: 「お越し」 (honorific “come”) + 「いただく」 (humbly receive a favor). Together it means “thank you for taking the trouble to come.” Used in polite/business settings.
本日はお越しいただき、ありがとうございます。
Thank you for coming today.
Words in this phrase
お
o
[oh]
honorific prefix (polite)
Adds politeness; commonly used before verbs/words in set expressions like お越し.
本日はお越しいただきありがとうございます。
Thank you for coming today.
越し
koshi
[koh-shee]
coming/visiting (polite)
In お越し, a polite way to say someone comes/visits (especially to your place/company).
面接にお越しいただきありがとうございます。
Thank you for coming to the interview.
いただき
itadaki
[ee-tah-dah-kee]
to receive (humbly); to do for me (polite)
Humble phrase component showing gratitude for the other person’s action: “thank you for …”.
本日はお越しいただきありがとうございます。
Thank you for coming today.
ありがとう
arigatou
[ah-ree-gah-toh]
thank you (casual base)
The base “thank you.” In formal speech it’s followed by ございます to become polite.
本日はお越しいただきありがとうござい ます。
Thank you for coming today.
ござい
gozai
[goh-zah-ee]
(part of) “gozaimasu” (polite ‘to be’)
ござい is the stem of ございます, used to make ありがとう more polite (ありがとうございます).
本日はありがとうございます、と丁寧に言います。
You politely say, “Thank you very much today.”
ます
masu
[mahss]
polite verb ending; “(it) is/are” (polite)
Finishes the polite phrase ございます. Together: ありがとう + ございます = a standard formal thank you.
本日はお越しいただきありがとうございます。
Thank you for coming today.
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