ありがとうございます
arigatō gozaimasu[a̠ɾʲiɡa̠to̞ː ɡo̞za̠ima̠sɨ̥]
The English phrase "thank you formal" is translated into Japanese as ありがとうございます (arigatō gozaimasu).
ありがとうございます is the most commonly used way to express gratitude formally in Japanese.
Which one should you use?
While ありがとうございます is the standard formal expression, you can use どうもありがとうございます to convey a deeper sense of gratitude. For extra formal situations, such as business meetings or when expressing gratitude to superiors or elders, you can use お礼申し上げます.
How does it change in a sentence?
If you are thanking someone for an action that has already been completed, use the past tense form ありがとうございました.
How do you pronounce it?
arigatō gozaimasu
Did you know?
- In very formal Japanese business culture, people sometimes thank their superiors for being scolded or corrected. This transforms a negative experience into a gesture of gratitude for the guidance provided.
- The word 'arigatō' is actually a contraction of 'arigataki', which translates to 'difficult to exist' or 'rare'.
- Depending on the region, some Japanese speakers may use おおきに instead of ありがとうございます. This is a distinct characteristic of the Kansai dialect spoken in cities like Osaka and Kyoto.
Examples in context
- ご丁寧にありがとうございます。Goteinei ni arigatou gozaimasu.Thank you for your kindness.
- 助けていただき、ありがとうございます。Tasukete itadaki, arigatou gozaimasu.Thank you for helping me.
Example conversation
Misaki is thanking Kenta for his professional advice at the office.
- 美咲 Misakiアドバイスをいただき、ありがとうございます。Adobaisu o itadaki, arigatou gozaimasu.Thank you for the advice.
- 健太 Kentaいえ、お役に立てて良かったです。Iie, o-yaku ni tatete yokatta desu.No, I am glad I could be of help.
- 美咲 Misakiまた相談させてください。Mata soudan sasete kudasai.Please let me consult with you again.
- 健太 Kentaもちろんです、いつでもどうぞ。Mochiron desu, itsudemo douzo.Of course, anytime.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry ありがとうございます, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ありがとうございます, CC BY-SA 4.0.
