ご理解いただきありがとうございます
Gorikai itadaki arigatō gozaimasu
The English phrase "thank you for your understanding" is translated into Japanese as ご理解いただきありがとうございます (Gorikai itadaki arigatō gozaimasu).
This phrase is a polite expression used to thank someone for being patient or for accepting a difficult situation. It is commonly used in professional announcements or emails when a company asks customers to accept an inconvenience, such as a service delay or a change in policy.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase breaks down into go-rikai (understanding/comprehension with honorific prefix), itadaki (receiving [your understanding] humbly) and arigatō gozaimasu (thank you).
Which one should you use?
While ご理解いただきありがとうございます is the standard formal version, you can use ご理解ありがとうございます to make the phrase slightly less formal and more direct, though it remains polite. Another formal option is ご了承いただきありがとうございます, which uses goryōshō to specifically imply "understanding and consenting to/accepting" a certain condition or decision.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
ご理解いただきありがとうございます is a formal and polite expression suitable for business correspondence or professional customer service.
How do you pronounce it?
Gorikai itadaki arigatō gozaimasu
Did you know?
- While English speakers use 'thank you for your understanding' after a mistake, Japanese speakers often use it proactively in the phrase ご理解のほどお願いいたします to ask for patience before the inconvenience even occurs.
- The humble verb いただく (to receive) used in this phrase physically positions the speaker as someone receiving a kindness, even when the 'kindness' is merely the customer's silent acceptance of a bad situation.
- In Japanese business culture, ご理解いただきありがとうございます is often used as a polite way to tell someone that a decision is final and cannot be negotiated.
Examples in context
- こちらの事情をご理解いただきありがとうございます。kochira no jijou o go-rikai itadaki arigatou gozaimasu.Thank you for understanding our circumstances.
- 急な変更をご理解いただきありがとうございます。kyuu na henkou o go-rikai itadaki arigatou gozaimasu.Thank you for understanding the sudden change.
Example conversation
Hiroto is apologizing to Yui for changing the meeting time.
- 大翔 Hiroto時間を変更してもいいですか？Jikan o henkou shite mo ii desu ka?Is it okay if I change the time?
- 結衣 Yuiはい、大丈夫ですよ。Hai, daijoubu desu yo.Yes, that is fine.
- 大翔 Hirotoご理解いただきありがとうございます。Gorikai itadaki arigatou gozaimasu.Thank you for your understanding.
- 結衣 Yui気にしないでください。Ki ni shinaide kudasai.Please don't worry about it.
