🙏🙇

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

ありがとうございました。

arigatou gozai mashi ta

[ah-ree-gah-toh goh-zah-ee mah-shee tah]

💬 Usage Tip: The past-tense ending ました thanks someone for something that's now finished, such as a completed ride. Use ありがとうございます for something still ongoing.

Phrase Breakdown

ありがとう

arigatou

[ah-ree-gah-toh]

thank you

A common way to say thank you.

Example

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 (very polite)

A very polite version of あります, often used by staff in restaurants and hotels.

Example

駐車場がございます。

There is a parking lot.

まし

mashi

[mah-shee]

polite past stem

Part of the polite past ending in a verb phrase.

Example

昨日は多くのことを学びました。

I learned many things yesterday.

た

[tah]

past tense ending

This ending completes the polite past tense form.

Example

空席がございました。

There were vacant seats.

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