The most common way to say thank you in Japanese is ありがとう (arigatō, "ah-ree-gah-toh"), used with friends and family. With strangers, shop staff, teachers or colleagues, say ありがとうございます (arigatō gozaimasu). For something that is already finished, such as a meal, a lesson or a favour, use the past form ありがとうございました (arigatō gozaimashita).
- Most common
- ありがとう (arigatō)
- Polite
- ありがとうございます (arigatō gozaimasu)
- Already done
- ありがとうございました (arigatō gozaimashita)
- Reply
- いいえ (iie) or どういたしまして (dō itashimashite)
- Level
- A1
Which Japanese thank you should you use?
Japanese changes the phrase to match who you are talking to. If you are not sure, ありがとうございます is the safe choice: polite without sounding stiff. Plain ありがとう is for people you are close to, or people younger than you.
| Japanese | Romaji | Formality | When to use it |
|---|---|---|---|
| ありがとう | arigatō | Casual | Friends, family, people younger than you |
| どうも | dōmo | Casual, brief | A quick "thanks", for example to someone who holds a door |
| ありがとうございます | arigatō gozaimasu | Polite | Strangers, shop staff, teachers, colleagues: the safe default |
| どうもありがとうございます | dōmo arigatō gozaimasu | Very polite | When you are especially grateful |
| ありがとうございました | arigatō gozaimashita | Polite, past | Something already finished: a meal out, a lesson, a favour |
| 恐れ入ります | osoreirimasu | Very formal | Business and customer service |
Adding どうも (dōmo) in front makes any of them warmer: どうもありがとう (dōmo arigatō) is a casual "thanks a lot". On its own, どうも is a light, quick thanks that can sound offhand to a teacher or a boss.
What is the difference between gozaimasu and gozaimashita?
ございます (gozaimasu) is present tense and ございました (gozaimashita) is past. Use the present while the kindness is still happening or about to happen, and the past once it is over. That is why shop staff say ありがとうございました as you leave: the shopping is done.
ありがとうございます。
Arigatō gozaimasu.
Thank you.
Someone hands you something, or offers to help.
今日はありがとうございました。
Kyō wa arigatō gozaimashita.
Thank you for today.
At the end of a lesson, a meeting or a day out.
来てくれてありがとう。
Kite kurete arigatō.
Thanks for coming.
Casual. The verb in the te-form plus くれて says what you are thankful for.
手伝ってくれてありがとう。
Tetsudatte kurete arigatō.
Thanks for helping me.
When does sumimasen mean thank you?
すみません (sumimasen) is usually "excuse me" or "sorry", but Japanese speakers also use it to thank someone who has gone to some trouble for them, such as a stranger who picks up something you dropped. It thanks them and acknowledges the bother in one word.
あ、すみません。
A, sumimasen.
Oh, thank you (sorry for the trouble).
When someone picks up something you dropped.
助かりました。
Tasukarimashita.
That was a big help.
Literally "I was saved". Often said together with arigatō gozaimasu.
ごちそうさまでした。
Gochisōsama deshita.
Thank you for the meal.
Said after eating, to the cook or host, or to restaurant staff as you leave.
Before eating, people say いただきます (itadakimasu), a thank you for the food you are about to receive.
How do you reply to thank you in Japanese?
Textbooks teach どういたしまして (dō itashimashite, "you're welcome"). It is correct, but in everyday conversation it can sound a little formal. People more often wave the thanks away.
いいえ。
Iie.
Not at all.
Literally "no": it was nothing.
いえいえ。
Ie ie.
No, no, not at all.
Friendly and very common.
こちらこそ。
Kochira koso.
I should be thanking you.
こちら (this side, me) plus the emphasis word こそ. Use it when the other person did something for you too.
どういたしまして。
Dō itashimashite.
You're welcome.
Read short Japanese stories at A1 and tap any word, including every ありがとう, for its meaning.
Read free in your browserFrequently asked questions
How do you pronounce arigatō?
Say "ah-ree-gah-toh", holding the final ō a little longer than the other vowels. The Japanese r is a light tap of the tongue, somewhere between an English r, l and d. In arigatō gozaimasu the final u is usually very soft, so it sounds close to "go-zai-mass".
Is ありがとう written in kanji?
Usually not. ありがとう is normally written in hiragana. A kanji spelling, 有難う, exists but is uncommon in everyday writing.
What does dōmo arigatō mean?
どうもありがとう (dōmo arigatō) means "thanks a lot" and is casual. For a polite "thank you very much", say どうもありがとうございます (dōmo arigatō gozaimasu).
How do people say thank you in Osaka and Kyoto?
The traditional Kansai word is おおきに (ōkini), which you may still hear in Osaka and Kyoto. Standard ありがとう and ありがとうございます are understood and used everywhere in Japan.
Is arigatō rude to a stranger?
Not rude, but too casual. With a stranger, a shop assistant or anyone older or senior to you, add ございます: ありがとうございます (arigatō gozaimasu).