What does it mean word for word?
The phrase ありがとうございます is the polite form of 'thank you'.
Which one should you use?
While いつもありがとうございます is a general expression for ongoing support, 大変お世話になりました is used to express deep gratitude for extensive care and support received from a customer. For expressing sincere gratitude from the bottom of your heart in a formal setting, you may use 心より感謝いたします.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
いつもありがとうございます is a polite expression appropriate for professional service environments and customer-facing roles due to the use of gozaimasu. The phrase ありがとうございます is also a common and widely used way to say thank you in formal situations, and 心より感謝いたします is a formal way of expressing sincere gratitude.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the Kansai region, the phrase おおきに is used to express gratitude.
How does it change in a sentence?
To express thanks for something that has just been completed, such as when a customer has finished a transaction or is leaving a shop, you can change the ending to the past tense: いつもありがとうございました.
How do you pronounce it?
itsumo arigatōgozaimasu
Did you know?
- In Japanese retail, the act of thanking a customer is often accompanied by a deep bow, where the angle of the bend indicates the level of gratitude and respect.
- In some high-end Japanese shops, staff may use a form of 'humbling' language called kenjōgo that lowers their own status to elevate the customer's status while saying thank you.
- Japanese has a specific category of language called keigo used in these phrases, which can change the entire vocabulary based on the social distance between the speaker and the customer.
Examples in context
- いつもご利用いただき、ありがとうございますThank you for always using our services.
- ご愛顧いただき、誠にありがとうございますThank you for your continued patronage.
- お客様、いつもありがとうございます。Okyaku-sama, itsumo arigatou gozaimasu.Thank you for your continued patronage, valued customer.
- こちらこそ、いつもありがとうございます。Kochira koso, itsumo arigatou gozaimasu.It is I who should thank you for your continued patronage.
Example conversation
A shop clerk greets a regular customer entering the store.
- 大翔 Hirotoいらっしゃいませ。結衣さん、いつもありがとうございます。Irasshaimase. Yui-san, itsumo arigatou gozaimasu.Welcome! Yui, thank you for always coming to our shop.
- 結衣 Yuiこんにちは。今日もお願いね。Konnichiwa. Kyou mo onegai ne.Hello. I'd like your help today as well.
- 大翔 Hirotoもちろんです。何をお探しですか？Mochiron desu. Nani o osagashi desu ka?Of course. What are you looking for?
- 結衣 Yui新しいコーヒー豆が欲しいです。Atarashii koohii mame ga hoshii desu.I want some new coffee beans.
