How to Say ‘(polite) to be; makes the phrase polite’ in Japanese
ございます
gozai masu
[goh-zah-ee mahs]
💬 Usage Tip: [ございます] is the polite form of [ある]. In set phrases like [ありがとうございます], think of it as a politeness booster rather than literal “to be.”
🇯🇵 In Japan: Set polite expressions are common in customer-service Japan; using them can make you sound instantly more considerate and “proper.”
Phrase Breakdown
ござい
gozai
[goh-zah-ee]
to be (polite); to exist (polite form used in set phrases)
ござい is part of ございます, a polite expression used in fixed phrases like ありがとうございます. By itself, it’s not usually used alone in daily conversation.
ご連絡ありがとうございます。
Thank you for contacting me.
ます
masu
[mahs]
polite verb ending (makes speech formal)
ます makes the sentence polite. In set phrases like ございます, it contributes to the formal tone used with landlords/companies.
ありがとうございます。
Thank you very much.
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