Which one should you use?
ありがとう is used with friends and family, whereas ありがとうございます is required in formal or professional settings.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
ありがとう is a less formal version of ありがとうございます used among friends, family or peers. どうも is a simple and versatile way to say thank you casually. ありがとうございます is a common way to say thank you in formal situations. どうも can be used alone or added to the front of ありがとう to add emphasis.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the Kansai region, thank you is often pronounced as おおきに in more informal settings.
How does it change in a sentence?
To say "thank you for [noun]", you attach the particle を directly to the noun before ありがとう. To say "thank you for [verb]", you use the te-form of the verb followed by くれてありがとう. お世話になりました is used to express gratitude for someone's care, assistance or favors received.
How do you pronounce it?
arigatō
Did you know?
- The word 'arigatō' literally translates to 'it is difficult to exist'. It stems from the idea that a kind act or a good thing is so rare and precious that it is hard to find.
- In Japan, you can use the word 'arigatai' to describe something that is 'welcome' or 'blessed', such as the weather. This uses the original sense of the word being 'hard to come by' rather than just a polite expression of thanks.
Examples in context
- お時間を割いていただき、ありがとうございます。Thank you for taking the time.
- 映画のチケット、ありがとう！Thanks for the movie tickets!
- ご飯を作ってくれたんだね、どうも！You made dinner for me, thanks a lot!
- 教えてくれてありがとう。Oshiete kurete arigatou.Thank you for telling me.
- 手伝ってくれてありがとう。Tetsudatte kurete arigatou.Thank you for helping me.
- プレゼントをくれてありがとう。Purezento o kurete arigatou.Thank you for the gift.
Example conversation
Kenta and Misaki are at a cafe after Misaki helped him with a task.
- 美咲 Misakiこれ、ノートだよ。Kore, nooto da yo.Here is the notebook.
- 健太 Kenta貸してくれてありがとう。Kashite kurete arigatou.Thank you for lending it to me.
- 美咲 Misakiどういたしまして。Dou itashimashite.You're welcome.
- 健太 Kenta本当に助かったよ。Hontou ni tasukatta yo.It really helped me out.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry ありがとう, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ありがとう, CC BY-SA 4.0.
