Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| ありがとうございます | arigatō gozaimasu | [a̠ɾʲiɡa̠to̞ː ɡo̞za̠ima̠sɨ̥] (narrow) |
| ありがとう | arigatō | [a̠ɾʲiɡa̠to̞ː] (narrow) [a̠˨ɾi˦ɡ̃a̠˨to̞ː˨˨] (narrow) [a̠˨ɾi˦ɡ̃a̠˦to̞ː˨˨] (narrow) [a̠˨ɾi˨ɡ̃a̠˨to̞ː˦˨] (narrow) [a̠˨ɾi˨ɡ̃a̠˨to̞ː˦˦] (Kagoshima, 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. Adding the word どうも before ありがとう increases the emphasis of your gratitude in an informal way. For a sense of deep gratitude that acknowledges how an action has impacted your life, you can use Kansha shimasu.
Which one should you use?
ありがとうございます is the polite way to show respect to strangers or superiors. In contrast, ありがとう is the casual version used among friends and peers. While ありがとう is standard, どうもありがとう is an informal way to say "thank you very much". For a very casual and clipped way to say "thanks" in everyday situations, you can use どうも. Additionally, サンキュー is a loanword from English used in lighthearted or youthful contexts.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
ありがとうございます is the most common way to express thank you formally. To carry a stronger sense of gratitude in a formal setting, you can use Dōmo arigatō gozaimasu. For informal settings, ありがとう is appropriate for friends and family, while どうも is a very casual, friendly way to say "thanks". サンキュー functions as slang.
Is it said differently in some regions?
大きに is a regional way to express "thank you very much" used primarily in the Kansai area, such as in Osaka.
How does it change in a sentence?
To thank someone for an action that has already been completed, you should use the past tense ending: ありがとうございました.
How do you pronounce it?
arigatō
Did you know?
- The phrase ありがとう literally translates to 'it is difficult to exist'. It originally described something so rare or precious that it was hard to find in the world.
Examples in context
- ありがとう。Thank you!This is a simple way to say thank you.Tatoeba #1532832 by bunbuku, translation #374827 by sysko
- 電話ありがとう。Thank you for calling.This sentence is useful for thanking someone for a phone call.Tatoeba #3401026 by arnab, translation #64155 by CK
- 本当にありがとう。Thank you very much!Use this to express a strong sense of thanks.Tatoeba #81557 by tommy_san, translation #1564 by adjusting
- 387 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Kenta helps Yui carry some heavy books.
- 健太 Kentaこれ、運ぶの、手伝うよ。Kore, hakobu no, tetsudau yo.I'll help you carry these.
- 結衣 Yuiありがとう、健太君。Arigatou, Kenta-kun.Thank you, Kenta.
- 健太 Kentaいいよ、全然。Ii yo, zenzen.It's okay, no problem at all.
- 結衣 Yui本当に助かったよ。Hontou ni tasukatta yo.It really helped me out.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “thank you” translations and entries ありがとうございます, ありがとう, 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.
