ありがたい
arigatai
The English word 'grateful' is translated into Japanese as ありがたい (arigatai).
ありがたい is used to describe a situation or thing that is a blessing or a relief.
Meaning: of a person or their actions, feelings, etc.: expressing gratitude or appreciation (adj)
Which one should you use?
Use ありがたい to describe the quality of a situation or a feeling of relief.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the Kansai region, the informal expression おおきに is used to express gratitude.
How does it change in a sentence?
To use this adjective in a polite sentence, add the auxiliary verb です after it.
How do you pronounce it?
arigatai
When do people say it?
When you want to emphasize the sincerity and depth of your gratitude, you can use the phrase 心から感謝しています, which means 'I am sincerely grateful from the bottom of my heart'.
Did you know?
- The word ありがたい originates from the phrase あり難い, meaning 'difficult to be'. It reflects the Buddhist idea that the current moment or a kind act is a rare miracle that is unlikely to happen.
- When someone does something for you, it is common to say すみません which means 'sorry' instead of ありがたい. This expresses gratitude by acknowledging the trouble the other person went through.
- In traditional Japanese etiquette, expressing too much gratitude can sometimes be seen as emphasizing the burden placed on the other person, leading people to apologize while being grateful.
Examples in context
- 家族って、ありがたいですね。I'm grateful for my family.This sentence is useful for expressing gratitude for one's family using ありがたい.Tatoeba #11047881 by small_snow, translation #11541578 by pip
- 毎日、健康でいられるのはありがたいです。Mainichi, kenkou de irareru no wa arigatai desu.I am grateful to be healthy every day.
- 親切にしてもらって、本当にありがたい。Shinsetsuni shite moratte, hontou ni arigatai.I am truly grateful for your kindness.
Example conversation
Hiyori is thanking Daito for bringing her some coffee.
- 陽葵 Himariコーヒーをありがとう。ありがたいわ。Kōhī o arigatō. Arigatai wa.Thanks for the coffee. I'm grateful.
- 大翔 Hirotoいいえ、どういたしまして。Iie, dōitashimashite.No, you're welcome.
- 陽葵 Himariちょうど飲みたかったから助かるわ。Chōdo nomitakatta kara tasukaru wa.I wanted to drink some right now, so this helps.
- 大翔 Hirotoよかった。ゆっくり飲んでね。Yokatta. Yukkuri nonde ne.I'm glad. Enjoy it.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry ありがたい, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
