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.

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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 a polite, standard thank-you you will hear all the time at the convenience store. It is more formal than [ありがとう].

ありがとうございます。

arigatou gozai masu

[ah-ree-gah-toh goh-zah-ee mahs]

💬 Usage Tip: [ありがとうございます] is a polite, standard thank-you you will hear all the time at the convenience store. It is more formal than [ありがとう].

🇯🇵 In Japan: At Japanese convenience stores, staff often say [ありがとうございます] when you pay or leave. You can simply nod, smile, or say it back.

Phrase Breakdown

ありがとう

arigatou

[ah-ree-gah-toh]

thank you

A casual but warm way to say thanks. It is the base part of the more polite expression ありがとうございます.

Example

おつりをもらって、ありがとうと言いました。

After receiving the change, I said, "thank you."

ござい

gozai

[goh-zah-ee]

be / exist politely

Part of the polite expression ございます. In set phrases like ありがとうございます, it adds politeness and formality.

Example

店員さんに、ありがとうございますのございはとても丁寧だと習いました。

I learned that the ござい in ありがとうございます is very polite.

ます

masu

[mahs]

polite verb ending

A common polite ending used in Japanese verbs and expressions, including ございます.

Example

レジでますを使うと、言い方が丁寧になります。

When you use ます at the register, the expression becomes polite.

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