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 various forms of ありがとう, ranging from very casual shorthand to formal expressions of appreciation. Adding どうも to the beginning of the phrase increases emphasis, making it closer to 'thank you very much' in casual 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 professional settings. In contrast, ありがとう is a simplified, casual version used among friends, classmates or family. どうもありがとう adds emphasis to the casual form, while どうも serves as a very casual, shorthand way to say 'thanks' in many everyday situations.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For formal situations or when thanking someone older, use the polite ありがとうございます. A slightly more formal version used to convey deeper appreciation is どうもありがとうございます. In informal settings, you can use ありがとう with friends and family. For very casual interactions among close friends, you can use the shorthand どうも. The term サンキュー is considered slang and is used among peers.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the Kansai region, particularly in Osaka, people use the characteristic expression 大きに to say thank you.
How does it change in a sentence?
To express gratitude for something that has already happened, the past tense ありがとうございました is used.
How do you pronounce it?
arigatō
Did you know?
- The phrase ありがとう literally translates to 'it is hard to exist'. It comes from the idea that the thing you are thankful for is so rare or special that it is difficult to find.
- If you want to say 'this weather is welcome', you can use the adjective ありがたい (arigatai). It retains the original meaning of 'hard to come by' or 'rare' in modern Japanese.
Examples in context
- ありがとう。Thank you!This sentence demonstrates the use of ありがとう.Tatoeba #1532832 by bunbuku, translation #374827 by sysko
- 電話ありがとう。Thank you for calling.This sentence is useful for seeing ありがとう used when thanking someone for a specific action, like a phone call.Tatoeba #3401026 by arnab, translation #64155 by CK
- 本当にありがとう。Thank you very much!This sentence shows how to add emphasis to the expression using ありがとう.Tatoeba #81557 by tommy_san, translation #1564 by adjusting
- 387 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Yota hands Hiyori a drink.
- 陽葵 Himariありがとう、陽太。Arigatou, Youta.Thank you, Yota.
- 陽太 Yotaいいえ、気にしないで。Iie, kinishinaide.No, don't worry about it.
- 陽葵 Himariちょうど欲しかったの。Choudo hoshikatta no.I wanted one just now.
- 陽太 Yotaよかったね。Yokatta ne.I'm glad.
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.
