Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| ありがとう | arigatō | [a̠ɾʲiɡa̠to̞ː] (narrow) [a̠˨ɾi˦ɡ̃a̠˨to̞ː˨˨] (narrow) |
| ありがとうございます | arigatō gozaimasu | [a̠ɾʲiɡa̠to̞ː ɡo̞za̠ima̠sɨ̥] (narrow) |
| どうもありがとう | dōmo arigatō | [do̞ːmo̞ a̠ɾʲiɡa̠to̞ː] (narrow) |
| どうも | dōmo | [do̞ːmo̞] (narrow) |
| サンキュー | sankyū | [sã̠ŋʲkʲɨː] (narrow) |
| 大きに | ōkini | [o̞ːkʲiɲ̟i] (narrow) |
The primary way to express gratitude is through the root ありがとう. Adding どうも to the beginning, as in どうもありがとう, increases the emphasis of your gratitude, similar to saying "thank you very much" or "many thanks". You may also hear the loanword サンキュー, which is used in very casual, youthful or lighthearted contexts.
Which one should you use?
ありがとうございます is the polite form used with superiors, strangers or in formal settings, whereas ありがとう is the casual form used with friends and family. For a slightly more polite version of the standard polite form, you can use どうもありがとうございます. For a very brief and casual acknowledgment, you can use どうも.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The level of politeness varies significantly: ありがとうございます is a common and polite way to say thank you. ありがとう is the informal equivalent. どうも is a very casual, clipped way to say "thanks" often used when a quick acknowledgment is sufficient. サンキュー is slang used in very casual or lighthearted settings. For a formal expression of thanks, you can use 感謝します, which means "I appreciate it".
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the Kansai region, specifically the Osaka and Kyoto area, people often use 大きに instead of ありがとう to express deep gratitude.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form ありがとうございます is used for current or habitual gratitude. To express gratitude for an action that has just been completed, the past tense form should be used.
How do you pronounce it?
arigatō
When do people say it?
In Japanese culture, you can show appreciation for someone's hard work or effort by using お疲れ様, which literally means "you must be tired".
Did you know?
- The word ありがとう originally meant 'hard to exist' or 'rare'. It evolved from the idea that something so wonderful is rare and difficult to come by, eventually becoming a way to say 'thank you'.
Examples in context
- ありがとう。Thank you!This sentence is useful for a simple expression of thanks.Tatoeba #1532832 by bunbuku, translation #374827 by sysko
- 電話ありがとう。Thank you for calling.This sentence shows how to thank someone for a specific action using ありがとう.Tatoeba #3401026 by arnab, translation #64155 by CK
- 本当にありがとう。Thank you very much!This sentence uses ありがとう to express deep gratitude.Tatoeba #81557 by tommy_san, translation #1564 by adjusting
- 387 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Hiroto gives Himari a small gift.
- 大翔 Hirotoこれ、プレゼントだよ。Kore, purezento da yo.This is a present for you.
- 陽葵 Himariわあ、ありがとう！Waa, arigatou!Wow, thank you!
- 大翔 Hiroto喜んでもらえてよかった。Yorokonde moraete yokatta.I'm glad you're happy.
- 陽葵 Himari大切にするね。Taisetsu ni suru ne.I will cherish it.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “thank you” translations and entries ありがとう, ありがとうございます, どうもありがとう, どうも, サンキュー, 大きに, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ありがとう, ありがとうございます, どうも, どうもありがとう, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
