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]
🇯🇵 In Japan: This is the standard closing thank-you from staff as you leave. Customers can say it too, but a simple [ありがとうございます] or even just a nod is also normal.
Phrase Breakdown
ありがとう
arigatou
[ah-ree-gah-toh]
thank you
The core word for expressing thanks. In shops, it appears in very polite set phrases.
ありがとうと言いました。
I said thank you.
ござい
gozai
[goh-zah-ee]
to be; polite part
Part of the very polite expression ございます, which makes thanks more formal.
ありがとうございまし たは丁寧です。
‘Arigatou gozaimashita’ is polite.
まし
mashi
[mah-shee]
polite ending part
Part of the polite past form in ございました / ありがとうございました.
ましはありがとうございましたの一部です。
Mashi is one part of arigatou gozaimashita.
た
ta
[tah]
past tense ending
Marks the phrase as past/polite, as in 'thank you very much' after the interaction is finished.
たはありがとうございましたの最後です。
Ta is the end of arigatou gozaimashita.
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 LessonWhat 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