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 mahss]
💬 Usage Tip: A classic polite thank-you. [ありがとう] is casual; [ありがとうございます] is the safe office version.
🇯🇵 In Japan: Saying thank you at each step is common and helps interactions feel warm, even in formal places like city hall.
Phrase Breakdown
ありがとう
arigatou
[ah-ree-gah-toh]
thank you
Core casual expression of thanks. In this full phrase it becomes more polite.
ありがとうございます、と言いました。
I said, “Thank you very much.”
ござい
gozai
[goh-zai]
polite part of the expression
Part of ございます, which makes ありがとう more formal and polite.
ありがとうございます、助かります。
Thank you very much, that helps.
ます
masu
[mahss]
polite ending
Polite ending completing ございます.
ありがとうございます。
Thank you very much.
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