What does it mean word for word?
The phrase consists of どうも, which functions as an adverb meaning 'very' or 'truly' to add emphasis and ありがとうございます, which is the polite form of 'thank you' where gozaimasu adds a level of formal courtesy.
Which one should you use?
While arigatō alone is casual, adding dōmo at the beginning and gozaimasu at the end makes the expression much more formal and emphatic. Specifically, どうもありがとうございます is a slightly more polite expression that shows a deeper level of gratitude than the standard arigatō gozaimasu.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
どうもありがとうございます is a formal expression. In contrast, using just どうも by itself is a very casual way to say 'thanks' and should only be used with friends or subordinates. Arigatō gozaimasu is the most common way to say thank you in formal situations.
How does it change in a sentence?
To express gratitude for an action that has been completed, such as at the end of a meeting or after receiving a gift, change the ending to the past tense ありがとうございました.
How do you pronounce it?
dōmo arigatō gozaimasu
When do people say it?
A standard polite response to どうもありがとうございます is いいえ、どういたしまして, which means 'No, don't mention it' or 'You're welcome'.
Did you know?
- The word ありがとう originates from 有り難い, meaning 'difficult to be'. It originally described something so rare or precious that its existence was seen as a miracle.
- When receiving a gift, it is common to first say ありがとうございます and then apologize with すみません because the giver went to so much trouble.
- In some traditional contexts, Japanese speakers may avoid saying 'thank you' too often to a close family member, as it can create a formal distance that feels cold.
Examples in context
- どうもありがとうございます。Thank you so much.This example demonstrates the use of どうもありがとうございます.Tatoeba #11831589 by small_snow, translation #2648441 by CK
- 素敵なプレゼントを、どうもありがとうございます。Suteki na purezento o, doumo arigatou gozaimasu.Thank you so much for the lovely present.
- 助けてくれて、どうもありがとうございます。Tasukete kurete, doumo arigatou gozaimasu.Thank you so much for helping me.
Example conversation
Himari is thanking Ren for driving her home safely.
- 陽葵 Himari送ってくれて、どうもありがとうございます。Okutte kurete, doumo arigatou gozaimasu.Thank you so much for giving me a ride.
- 蓮 Renいえいえ、大丈夫ですよ。Iie ie, daijoubu desu yo.No, no, it was no problem.
- 陽葵 Himari蓮さんは本当に優しいですね。Ren-san wa hontou ni yasashii desu ne.Ren, you are truly kind.
- 蓮 Renそんなことありませんよ。Sonna koto arimasen yo.That's not the case at all.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry どうもありがとうございます, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
