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) |
These phrases are used to express gratitude. You can also use どうもありがとうございます to say "thank you very much" by combining the two words for a more emphatic and polite expression. To respond to someone thanking you, you can say dōoitashimashite, which means "you're welcome" or "don't mention it."
Which one should you use?
ありがとうございます is the polite form used with strangers, superiors or in formal settings, whereas ありがとう is the casual form used with friends and family. どうも is an even more casual, clipped way to say thanks, often used in quick, everyday interactions. サンキュー is a slang loanword from English used in trendy or playful contexts among peers.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
ありがとうございます is a common and standard way to say thank you formally. ありがとう is a simple and commonly used expression for informal contexts. どうも is an even more casual way of saying thank you, often used among close friends or peers. サンキュー is considered slang and is used in very casual or playful contexts.
Is it said differently in some regions?
大きに is a regional expression used in the Kansai area, such as Osaka or Kyoto, to express gratitude.
How does it change in a sentence?
To thank someone for an action that has already been completed, you can use the past tense form ありがとうございました.
How do you pronounce it?
arigatō
Did you know?
- In Japanese culture, thanking someone can sometimes be perceived as creating a social debt. In some close relationships, people may apologize using すみません 'excuse me' instead of saying 'thank you' to acknowledge the trouble the other person went through.
- The word ありがとう originally meant 'difficult to exist' or 'hard to be'. Over time, the meaning shifted from 'rare' to 'welcome' and finally to 'thank you'.
- While ありがとう is used for thanks, the related adjective ありがたい can still be used to mean that something is 'welcome' or 'blessed', such as saying 'this weather is welcome'.
Examples in context
- ありがとう。Thank you!Tatoeba #1532832 by bunbuku, translation #374827 by sysko
- 電話ありがとう。Thank you for calling.Tatoeba #3401026 by arnab, translation #64155 by CK
- 本当にありがとう。Thank you very much!Tatoeba #81557 by tommy_san, translation #1564 by adjusting
- 387 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Ren gives Misaki a small gift.
- 蓮 Ren美咲、これプレゼント。Misaki, kore purezento.Misaki, this is a present for you.
- 美咲 Misakiわあ、ありがとう！Waa, arigatou!Wow, thank you!
- 蓮 Ren喜んでもらえてよかった。Yorokonde moraete yokatta.I'm glad you like it.
- 美咲 Misaki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.
