Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| ありがとう | arigatō | [a̠ɾʲiɡa̠to̞ː] (narrow) [a̠˨ɾi˦ɡ̃a̠˨to̞ː˨˨] (narrow) |
| ありがとうございます | arigatō gozaimasu | [a̠ɾʲiɡa̠to̞ː ɡo̞za̠ima̠sɨ̥] (narrow) |
| どうもありがとう | dōmo arigatō | [do̞ːmo̞ a̠ɾʲiɡa̠to̞ː] (narrow) |
| どうも | dōmo | [do̞ːmo̞] (narrow) |
| サンキュー | sankyū | [sã̠ŋʲkʲɨː] (narrow) |
| 大きに | ōkini | [o̞ːkʲiɲ̟i] (narrow) |
These phrases are used to express gratitude.
What does it mean word for word?
In the phrase どうもありがとう, the word どうも literally functions as an adverb meaning 'very' or 'truly' to add emphasis to the gratitude.
Which one should you use?
The form ありがとうございます is the polite version used with superiors, strangers or in professional settings. In contrast, ありがとう is the casual form used with friends and family. The phrase どうもありがとう is an informal way to express gratitude, and どうもありがとうございます is a more emphatic way to express gratitude in formal situations.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For formal settings or when speaking to strangers and superiors, use ありがとうございます. The form どうも is a very casual, shortened way to say thanks, often used in quick, everyday interactions. ありがとう is a casual way to say thank you among friends or peers. どうもありがとう is also an informal way to express gratitude. For casual slang among peers, you can use the katakana transliteration of the English phrase, サンキュー.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the Kansai dialect (Osaka/Kyoto area), you may hear 大きに as a way to express thank you very much. Additionally, in the Kansai region, people use めっちゃありがとう to express gratitude.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form ありがとうございます is in the non-past tense and is used for actions happening now or in the future. For a completed action or a favor already received, the past tense form ありがとうございました would be used.
How do you pronounce it?
arigatō
Did you know?
- The word ありがとう originally meant 'difficult to exist' or 'hard to be'. Over time, this shifted to meaning 'rare' and then finally to 'thankful' because a rare favor is more precious.
- While ありがとう is used for gratitude, the adjective form ありがたい can still be used to say something is simply 'welcome' or 'a blessing'.
Examples in context
- ありがとう。Thank you!This sentence is useful for a simple thank you using ありがとう.Tatoeba #1532832 by bunbuku, translation #374827 by sysko
- 電話ありがとう。Thank you for calling.This sentence shows how to use ありがとう when thanking someone for a specific action, like calling.Tatoeba #3401026 by arnab, translation #64155 by CK
- 本当にありがとう。Thank you very much!This sentence uses ありがとう to express a high degree of gratitude.Tatoeba #81557 by tommy_san, translation #1564 by adjusting
- 387 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Ren gives Yui a small gift.
- 蓮 Renこれ、プレゼント。Kore, purezento.This is a present.
- 結衣 Yuiわあ、ありがとう！Waa, arigatou!Wow, thank you!
- 蓮 Ren喜んでもらえてよかった。Yorokonde moraete yokatta.I'm glad you're happy.
- 結衣 Yui大切にするね。Taisetsu ni suru ne.I'll cherish it.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “thank you” translations and entries ありがとう, ありがとうございます, どうもありがとう, どうも, サンキュー, 大きに, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ありがとう, ありがとうございます, どうも, どうもありがとう, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
