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🙏💯

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

ほんとうにありがとうございます。

hontou ni arigatou gozai masu

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

💬 Usage Tip: Adding [ほんとうに] makes [ありがとうございます] feel extra sincere: [Thank you very, very much].

🇯🇵 In Japan: A lovely phrase to use after someone agrees to be photographed or gives you their time.

Phrase Breakdown

ほんとうに

hontou ni

really; truly

An adverb that strengthens the feeling of gratitude or emphasis.

Example

ほんとうにすみません。

I’m really sorry.

Words in this phrase

ほんとう

hontou

[hohn-toh]

truth; real

Here it helps form ほんとうに, meaning truly or really.

Example

ほんとうにありがとうございます。

Thank you very much, truly.

ni

[nee]

-ly; in a ... way

Turns ほんとう into the adverb ほんとうに, meaning really or truly.

Example

ほんとうにたすかりました。

That really helped me.

ありがとうございます。

arigatou gozai masu

thank you very much

A polite expression used to express gratitude.

Example

おてつだい、ありがとうございます。

Thank you for your help.

Words in this phrase

ありがとう

arigatou

[ah-ree-gah-toh]

thank you

The main thankful expression in this polite sentence.

Example

ほんとうにありがとう。

Thank you very much, really.

ござい

gozai

[goh-zah-ee]

to exist; polite honorific part

Part of the more formal thank-you phrase.

Example

ありがとうございます。

Thank you very much.

ます

masu

[mahss]

polite ending

Adds politeness to the expression of thanks.

Example

いつもありがとうございます。

Thank you always.

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