What does it mean word for word?
The word いつも literally means "always" or "all the time". The part ご利用いただき is a humble way to express that the speaker has received the favor of the customer using their service.
Which one should you use?
While いつもご利用いただきありがとうございます is a standard expression for continued patronage, other forms exist for specific contexts. Use お取引いただきありがとうございます to mean "Thank you very much for your business" in a formal setting, and ご利用いただき、ありがとうございます to mean "Thank you for using our services." In retail settings throughout Japan, you will often hear お買い上げいただき、ありがとうございます to mean "Thank you for your purchase."
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The default form いつもご利用いただきありがとうございます is a highly formal business expression. The form お取引いただきありがとうございます is also labeled as formal.
How does it change in a sentence?
To shift the gratitude to the past tense, often used specifically after a transaction or service has been completed, you can change the final gozaimasu to gozaimashita to say いつもご利用いただきありがとうございました.
How do you pronounce it?
Itsumo goriyō itadaki arigatō gozaimasu
Did you know?
- The distinction between the present ありがとうございます and the past ありがとうございました is so strict that using the past tense too early can imply that the business relationship is permanently over.
- The word いつも in this phrase does not just mean 'always' in a literal sense, but functions as a social lubricant to acknowledge a relationship even if it is the customer's first visit.
- The humble structure used in ご利用いただき is part of a complex linguistic system called keigo, which changes the entire vocabulary of a sentence based on the social hierarchy between speaker and listener.
Examples in context
- 本田さん、ご利用いただき、ありがとうございます。Honda-san, thank you for using our services.
- いつもご利用いただきありがとうございます。またお待ちしております。Itsumo go-riyō itadaki arigatō gozaimasu. Mata omachi shite orimasu.Thank you for your business. We look forward to seeing you again.
Example conversation
A shop clerk is thanking a regular customer who just finished paying.
- 美咲 Misakiいつもご利用いただきありがとうございます。Itsumo go-riyō itadaki arigatō gozaimasu.Thank you for your continued patronage.
- 大翔 Hirotoこちらこそ、いつもありがとうございます。Kochira koso, itsumo arigatō gozaimasu.No, thank you, as always.
- 美咲 Misakiまたのご来店をお待ちしております。Mata no go-raiten o omachi shite orimasu.We look forward to your next visit.
- 大翔 Hirotoはい、また来ますね。Hai, mata kimasu ne.Yes, I'll come again.
