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

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

🙏

How to Say ‘Thank you.’ 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." in English. Usage tip: [ありがとうございます] is the standard polite “thank you.” The [ます] style is safe for teachers and office staff.

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 standard polite “thank you.” The [ます] style is safe for teachers and office staff.

🇯🇵 In Japan: When calling a school (e.g., about an absence or picking something up), ending with [ありがとうございます] helps the conversation feel smooth and respectful.

Phrase Breakdown

ありがとう

arigatou

[ah-ree-gah-toh]

thank you

The base “thank you” part of the polite phrase ありがとうございます.

Example

ご対応いただき、ありがとうございます。

Thank you for your help/responding.

ございます

gozai masu

(polite addition; makes “thank you” formal)

Polite verb used in set phrases like 「ありがとうございます」. It elevates politeness rather than adding a separate literal meaning in daily use.

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]

(polite form that makes phrases formal)

Part of ありがとうございます, making it a formal, polite “thank you,” suitable for teachers/school staff.

Example

早いご返信、ございます。助かりました。

Thank you for your quick reply. It helped a lot.

ます

masu

[mahss]

(polite sentence ending)

Polite ending; in ありがとうございます it completes the polite, formal expression.

Example

連絡帳を確認していただき、ありがとうございます。

Thank you for checking the communication notebook.

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