How to Say ‘Thank you for calling.’ in Japanese
お電話ありがとうございます。
o denwa arigatou gozai masu
[oh den-wah ah-ree-gah-toh goh-zah-ee mahss]
🇯🇵 In Japan: Staff say this as the very first words when answering a business phone, usually followed by the shop's name. Hearing it tells you you've reached the right place.
Phrase Breakdown
お電話
o denwa
(your) phone call
電話 (denwa) means 'phone call'. The polite prefix お makes it respectful. Say it as o-den-wa, with a clear 'n' sound in the middle.
お電話をください。
Please give me a call.
Words in this phrase
お
o
[oh]
honorific/polite prefix
A polite prefix that makes a word sound more refined or respectful.
おすすめのおは、ことばを丁寧にします。
The o in osusume makes the word more polite.
電話
denwa
[den-wah]
telephone; phone
Used for phone calls or phone contact information.
電話番号もお願いします。
Your phone number as well, please.
ありがとうございます。
arigatou gozai masu
thank you very much
This is the polite form of 'thank you'. Say it smoothly as a-ri-ga-tou go-za-i-ma-su. The final 'su' is often whispered.
手伝ってくれてありがとうございます。
Thank you for helping me.
Words in this phrase
ありがとう
arigatou
[ah-ree-gah-toh]
thank you
A common way to say thank you.
ありがとう、助かります。
Thank you, that helps.
ござい
gozai
[goh-zah-ee]
to be; to exist (polite part of expression)
A polite verb stem used in set phrases like greetings to sound respectful.
あいさつでは、ございをていねいに言います。
In greetings, you say gozai politely.
ます
masu
[mahss]
polite ending
A polite ending attached to verbs in formal speech.
まだありますか。
Are there still some available?
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