How to Say ‘Thank you.’ in Japanese
ありがとうございます。
arigatou gozai masu
[ah-ree-gah-toh goh-zai]
💬 Usage Tip: [ありがとうございます] is the standard polite “thank you.” A casual version is [ありがとう], but the longer form is safer and better for museum staff.
🇯🇵 In Japan: Polite thanks are used often in Japan, even in very short interactions. Saying this when receiving your ticket is a nice touch.
Phrase Breakdown
ありがとう
arigatou
[ah-ree-gah-toh]
thank you
A common expression of thanks; casual base part of the fuller polite phrase.
てつだってくれて、ありがとうといいました。
Because you helped me, I said, “Thank you.”
ござい
gozai
[goh-zai]
be/exist (honorific polite part)
Part of the polite phrase ありがとうございます, adding extra politeness.
ありがとうにございをつけると、もっとていねいです。
If you add ござい to arigatou, it becomes more polite.
ます
masu
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