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す。". This phrase is commonly used in Japan.

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

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

"ありがとうございます。" means "Thank you very much." in English. Usage tip: [ありがとうございます] is a polite, standard way to say “thank you very much.” It comes from [ありがたい], meaning “rare” or “precious,” so the feeling is like “this is deeply appreciated.”

ありがとうございます。

arigatou gozai masu

[ah-ree-gah-toh goh-zah-ee mahss]

💬 Usage Tip: [ありがとうございます] is a polite, standard way to say “thank you very much.” It comes from [ありがたい], meaning “rare” or “precious,” so the feeling is like “this is deeply appreciated.”

🇯🇵 In Japan: In Japan, this phrase is used all the time—shops, offices, trains, everywhere. A small nod while saying [ありがとうございます] makes it sound extra natural and warm.

Phrase Breakdown

ありがとう

arigatou

[ah-ree-gah-toh]

thank you

A casual base form meaning thanks or thank you.

Example

本当にありがとう。

Thank you very much.

ございます

gozai masu

polite auxiliary used to make thanks polite

Adds politeness, making the whole expression very respectful.

Example

ありがとうございます。

Thank you very much.

Words in this phrase

ござい

gozai

[goh-zah-ee]

(honorific polite part of expression)

A polite honorific element used in fixed expressions like ございます.

Example

ご親切でございまして、感謝します。

I am grateful for your kindness.

ます

masu

[mahss]

polite verb ending

A standard polite ending attached to verbs in formal speech.

Example

毎朝勉強します。

I study every morning.

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