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) |
The phrase is used to express gratitude. Depending on the context and intonation, the versatile word どうも can also function as a way to say "thanks", "hello" or even a light "sorry".
Which one should you use?
ありがとうございます is the polite form used with superiors, strangers or in formal settings. In contrast, ありがとう is the casual form used with friends and family. The shortened どうも is a very casual way to say "thanks" during quick, everyday interactions. Additionally, サンキュー is a loanword from English used in very casual, trendy 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 commonly used way to say thank you in formal settings. For more formal expressions that explicitly convey gratitude, you can use 感謝します. In informal settings, ありがとう is used among friends or people of similar age. For a very casual and widely used way to say thanks, you can use どうも. The loanword サンキュー is considered slang and is used in very casual or youthful contexts.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The word 大きに is used in the Kansai region, such as Osaka or Kyoto, to mean "thank you very much". In the Osaka dialect specifically, 大きに is used to mean "thank you".
How does it change in a sentence?
When expressing gratitude for something that has already been completed, you should use the past tense form ありがとうございました instead of the present tense.
How do you pronounce it?
arigatō
When do people say it?
When you want to convey a sense of indebtedness or deep gratitude for someone's assistance, guidance or care, you can use the phrase お世話になりました.
Did you know?
Examples in context
- ありがとう。Thank you!This example shows a simple way to say "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 example uses ありがとう to say "Thank you for calling."Tatoeba #3401026 by arnab, translation #64155 by CK
- 本当にありがとう。Thank you very much!This example uses ありがとう to say "Thank you very much!"Tatoeba #81557 by tommy_san, translation #1564 by adjusting
- 387 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Yui gives a small gift to Hiroto.
- 結衣 Yuiこれ、プレゼント。Kore, purezento.This is a present.
- 大翔 Hirotoわあ、ありがとう！Waa, arigatou!Wow, thank you!
- 結衣 Yui喜んでもらえてよかった。Yorokonde moraete yokatta.I'm glad you're happy.
- 大翔 Hiroto大切にするね。Taisetsu ni suru ne.I will cherish it.
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.
