What does it mean word for word?
The phrase breaks down into go (an honorific prefix), shichō (viewing/watching) and arigatō gozaimashita (thank you in the past tense).
Which one should you use?
The version ご視聴ありがとうございました uses the past tense to signal that the viewing session has concluded, which is the natural way to sign off. In contrast, the present tense version ご視聴ありがとうございます can be used if the video is still ongoing or if the speaker is thanking the viewer for their ongoing support.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
ご視聴ありがとうございました is a polite and formal way to thank an audience, making it suitable for YouTube videos, professional broadcasts or presentations. For even more formal or professional contexts, you might use ご視聴いただきありがとうございました or ご覧いただき、ありがとうございます (often used in presentations or speeches). For informal situations among friends and peers, you can use 見てくれてありがとう or the more expressive 見てくれて嬉しい。ありがとう! and 見てくれて、感謝してるよ.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase uses the past tense gozaimashita because the act of watching is completed by the time the speaker says it.
How do you pronounce it?
Goshichō arigatō gozaimashita
Did you know?
- Japanese has several words for 'watch', and while 視聴 is for broadcasts, 見る (miru) is used for general seeing and 観る (miru) is used specifically for appreciating art or a movie performance.
- In Japanese corporate videos or official announcements, you may see this phrase written in vertical text, which is still common in formal signage and calligraphy despite the horizontal shift in digital media.
- While ご視聴ありがとうございました is standard for videos, the word 視聴 (shichō) specifically implies a combination of listening and seeing, reflecting the nature of broadcasting.
Examples in context
- ご視聴ありがとうございました。Goshichou arigatou gozaimashita.Thank you for watching.
Example conversation
A YouTuber finishes their livestream and greets their viewers.
- 大翔 Hiroto今日は最後までご視聴ありがとうございました。Kyou wa saigo made goshichou arigatou gozaimashita.Thank you for watching until the end today.
- 美咲 Misaki大翔さんの動画、とても面白かったです！Hiroto-san no douga, totemo omoshirokatta desu!Hiroto's video was very interesting!
- 大翔 Hiroto美咲さん、コメントありがとうございます。Misaki-san, komento arigatou gozaimasu.Misaki, thank you for your comment.
- 美咲 Misakiまた次の動画も楽しみにしています。Mata tsugi no douga mo tanoshimi ni shiteimasu.I am looking forward to the next video.
