How to Say ‘Thank you.’ in Japanese
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 the polite version of [ありがとう]. Use it in shops, at work, or with people you do not know well.
🇯🇵 In Japan: You will hear [ありがとうございます] everywhere in Japan, especially from staff to customers and customers back to staff. It is a daily politeness superstar.
Phrase Breakdown
ありがとう
arigatou
[ah-ree-gah-toh]
thank you
The base word of thanks, used inside a more polite expression.
ご親切にありがとうと言いました。
I said thank you for your kindness.
ござい
gozai
[goh-zah-ee]
to be; polite honorific part
A polite honorific element that makes the expression more formal.
社長にございませんと申し上げました。
I said, very politely, that he was not there to the company president.
ます
masu
[mahss]
polite verb ending
A standard polite ending attached to verbs.
毎日勉強します。
I study every day.
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