How do you say "Thank you very much." in Japanese?

"Thank you very much." in Japanese is "ありがとうございました。". This phrase is commonly used in Japan.

🙏✨

How to Say ‘Thank you very much.’ in Japanese

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

"ありがとうございました。" means "Thank you very much." in English. Usage tip: [ありがとう] becomes [ありがとうございました] when you're thanking someone for something that has just finished, like the end of an interview. In speech, [は] here is pronounced (wa), so [ありがとうございました] sounds like (arigatou gozaimashita).

ありがとうございました。

arigatou gozai mashi ta

[ah-ree-gah-toh goh-zah-ee mah-shee tah]

💬 Usage Tip: [ありがとう] becomes [ありがとうございました] when you're thanking someone for something that has just finished, like the end of an interview. In speech, [は] here is pronounced (wa), so [ありがとうございました] sounds like (arigatou gozaimashita).

🇯🇵 In Japan: At the end of a job interview in Japan, this is the natural polite thank-you as you leave. It sounds more appropriate than present-tense [ありがとうございます] because you're thanking them for the time they just gave you.

Phrase Breakdown

ありがとう

arigatou

[ah-ree-gah-toh]

thank you

A casual base expression meaning “thank you.” In job-interview settings it’s usually used as part of the more polite phrase ありがとうございます / ありがとうございました.

Example

面接の機会をいただき、ありがとう。

Thank you for giving me the opportunity for the interview.

ござい

gozai

[goh-zah-ee]

to be (polite) / to exist (polite)

Part of the polite set phrase ありがとうございます / ありがとうございました. It adds politeness and formality, common in interviews and business Japanese.

Example

本日はお時間をいただき、ございませんが感謝しております。

I don’t have (much to say), but I appreciate you giving me your time today. (Used to show the polite nuance of ござい〜.)

まし

mashi

[mah-shee]

(polite verb ending)

A polite ending used to form 〜ました (past polite). In ありがとうございました, it helps make the expression formal and suitable for interviews.

Example

先ほどはご説明いただき、まし。

Thank you for explaining earlier. (Shows the polite past ending component.)

た

[tah]

past tense marker (polite)

Combined with まし to make ました, indicating past polite. In interviews, ありがとうございました is the standard polite way to say “thank you” for something that just happened.

Example

本日は貴重なお時間をいただき、た。

Thank you for your valuable time today. (Highlights the past marker component.)

Get the Full Learning Experience

This lesson is just a preview. Download PrettyFluent to practice pronunciation, roleplay conversations, and master vocabulary with spaced repetition.

Pronunciation Feedback

AI-powered speech recognition to perfect your accent

Spaced Repetition

Retain vocabulary long-term with smart practice

Immersive Roleplaying

Practice real conversations with AI partners

Custom Scenarios

Request lessons tailored to your specific needs

Get Full Lesson

What Learners Are Saying

“Teaching in Osaka and I wanted to connect with my students beyond the classroom. The everyday conversation scenarios made my Japanese feel natural, not textbook-y.”

Mia S., 25, English Teacher

“Moved to Tokyo and the polite vs. casual speech levels were killing me. This app breaks it all down with real scenarios. My coworkers noticed the difference in weeks.”

Kevin Z., 31, Game Developer

“I tried five different apps before this one. The roleplay conversations are what finally made things click. I actually remember what I learn now.”

Sofia R., 31, Marketing Manager