Thank youโ in Japanese is commonly said as โArigatouโ (ใใใใจใ) in casual situations and โArigatou gozaimasuโ (ใใใใจใใใใใพใ) in formal or polite contexts. These phrases are essential for expressing gratitude in everyday Japanese life.
Many users search for how to say thank you in Japanese when learning the language, traveling to Japan, or interacting with Japanese speakers. The user intent is clear: they want simple, accurate, and easy-to-use phrases that show respect and politeness.
In this guide, you will learn the correct ways to say โthank youโ in Japanese, when to use each phrase, and pronunciation tips. These beginner-friendly explanations help you express gratitude naturally and confidently.
Say Thank you in Japanese
Letโs explore 15 authentic ways to say thank you in Japanese, complete with examples and the history or social context behind each phrase.
15 Ways to Say Thank You in Japanese (Short Table)
| Phrase | Japanese | Pronunciation | Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Thank you | ใใใใจใ | Arigatou | Casual |
| 2. Thank you very much | ใใใใจใใใใใพใ | Arigatou gozaimasu | Polite |
| 3. Thank you (past) | ใใใใจใใใใใพใใ | Arigatou gozaimashita | After help is done |
| 4. Thanks a lot | ใฉใใใใใใจใ | Doumo arigatou | Warm casual |
| 5. Very polite thanks | ใฉใใใใใใจใใใใใพใ | Doumo arigatou gozaimasu | Very polite |
| 6. Thanks | ใฉใใ | Doumo | Very casual |
| 7. I appreciate it | ๆ่ฌใใพใ | Kansha shimasu | Formal |
| 8. Thanks for everything | ใใใใใใใใจใ | Iroiro arigatou | When someone helped a lot |
| 9. Thanks as always | ใใคใใใใใจใ | Itsumo arigatou | For regular help |
| 10. Thanks for your help | ๆไผใฃใฆใใใฆใใใใจใ | Tetsudatte kurete arigatou | When someone helps you |
| 11. Good job / Thanks at work | ใ็ฒใๆงใงใ | Otsukaresama desu | Workplace |
| 12. Thank you for your kindness | ใ่ฆชๅใซใใใใจใใใใใพใ | Go-shinsetsu ni arigatou gozaimasu | Very polite |
| 13. Thank you (heartfelt) | ๅฟใใใใใใจใ | Kokoro kara arigatou | Emotional |
| 14. Thank you (cute tone) | ใใใใจใ | Arigato~ | Friendly/cute |
| 15. Thank you in advance | ใใใใใ้กใใใพใ | Yoroshiku onegaishimasu | Before help |
1. ใใใใจใ (Arigatou) โ “Thanks”
Origin:
From the words “ari” (to exist) and “gatou” (rare or difficult), originally meaning “itโs rare to exist” โ expressing that the help was precious.
Example:
๐ค User A: ใใฌใผใณใใใใใฆใใใใจใ๏ผ(Purezento o kurete arigatou!)
๐ค User B: ใฉใใใใใพใใฆ๏ผ(Dou itashimashite!)
Thanks for the gift!
Youโre welcome!
Use: Casual; used with friends, family, or people close in age.
2. ใใใใจใใใใใพใ (Arigatou gozaimasu) โ “Thank you (polite)”
Origin:
Adding “gozaimasu” makes it more respectful. It’s the polite form used in everyday conversation with strangers, colleagues, or elders.
Example:
๐ค User A: ๆฌใ่ฒธใใฆใใใฆใใใใจใใใใใพใใ
(Hon o kashite kurete arigatou gozaimasu.)
๐ค User B: ใใใใใใฉใใใใใพใใฆ๏ผ
Thank you for lending me the book.
No problem at all!
Use: Polite; suitable for work, customer service, or formal situations.
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3. ใใใใจใใใใใพใใ (Arigatou gozaimashita) โ “Thank you (past tense, polite)”
Origin:
Used when the action you’re thanking for has already been completed. The past tense โ-mashitaโ shows respect for a finished act.
Example:
๐ค User A: ๆจๆฅใฏๅฉใใฆใใใฆใใใใจใใใใใพใใใ
(Kinou wa tasukete kurete arigatou gozaimashita.)
๐ค User B: ใๅฝนใซ็ซใฆใฆใใใฃใใงใใ
Thank you for helping me yesterday.
Iโm glad I could help.
Use: Polite, respectful, and often used in customer interactions.
4. ใฉใใ (Doumo) โ “Thanks / Hey / Hello”
Origin:
An all-purpose word meaning “very” or “much,” often used by itself as a quick and casual “thanks.”
Example:
๐ค User A: ใใใใขใ้ใใฆใใใฆใฉใใ๏ผ
๐ค User B: ใฏใใฏใ๏ผ
Oh, thanks for opening the door!
No problem!
Use: Very casual and brief. Common in daily conversation.
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5. ใฉใใใใใใจใใใใใพใ (Doumo arigatou gozaimasu) โ “Thank you very much”
Origin:
Combines the intensifier โdoumoโ with the full polite form for extra gratitude.
Example:
๐ค User A: ใใฎใใฌใผใณใใใใใๅฌใใใงใใใฉใใใใใใจใใใใใพใ๏ผ
๐ค User B: ๅใใงใใใใฆใใใฃใ๏ผ
Iโm really happy with this gift. Thank you so much!
Iโm glad you like it!
Use: Very polite; when youโre deeply thankful.
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6. ใใฟใพใใ (Sumimasen) โ “Excuse me / Iโm sorry / Thank you”
Origin:
Though it means “excuse me” or “sorry,” it’s often used to thank someone for a kind favor or when you feel you imposed on them.
Example:
๐ค User A: ๆไผใฃใฆใใใฆใใฟใพใใใ
๐ค User B: ๅคงไธๅคซใงใใใ
Thanks for helping me (sorry to trouble you).
Itโs no trouble at all.
Use: Polite, used in both apologies and appreciation contexts.
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7. ๆ่ฌใใพใ (Kansha shimasu) โ “I appreciate it”
Origin:
A formal way to express sincere thanks, literally โI give thanks.โ
Example:
๐ค User A: ใๆฏๆดใซๅฟใใๆ่ฌใใพใใ
๐ค User B: ๅใซใชใใฆๅ
ๆ ใงใใ
I deeply appreciate your support.
Itโs an honor to be of help.
Use: Very formal, often used in speeches or writing.
8. ๅฟใใใใใใจใ (Kokoro kara arigatou) โ “Thanks from the heart”
Origin:
A heartfelt expression often used in emotional or serious moments. โKokoroโ means heart.
Example:
๐ค User A: ๅใฎๆฏใใซๅฟใใใใใใจใใ
๐ค User B: ใใใชใตใใซ่จใฃใฆใใใใฆๅฌใใใใ
Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your support.
I’m really touched by that.
Use: Emotional or personal; informal but powerful.
Read Also: How to Say Hello in Japanese: 15 Culturally Rich Greetings
9. ๆ่ฌใฎๆฐๆใกใงใใฃใฑใใงใ (Kansha no kimochi de ippai desu) โ “Iโm filled with gratitude”
Example:
๐ค User A: ็ใใใฎใใใใงใๆ่ฌใฎๆฐๆใกใงใใฃใฑใใงใใ
๐ค User B: ใใกใใใใใใใใจใใใใใพใ๏ผ
Thanks to you all, Iโm filled with gratitude.
Weโre the ones who should thank you!
Use: Deeply formal, often used in speeches or ceremonies.
10. ใ็คผใ็ณใไธใใพใ (Orei o moushiagemasu) โ “I offer my thanks”
Origin:
A business-level, honorific way to express thanks in writing or formal speech.
Example:
๐ค User A: ใๆๅพ
ใใใ ใใใ็คผใ็ณใไธใใพใใ
๐ค User B: ใๅๅ ใใใ ใๅ
ๆ ใงใใ
Thank you for the invitation.
Weโre honored by your presence.
Use: Ultra-formal, used in letters and professional correspondence.
11. ๅฉใใใพใใ (Tasukarimashita) โ “That really helped”
Origin:
From the verb โtasukaruโ (to be helped or saved), this thanks is used when someone has been a real help.
Example:
๐ค User A: ๅฎฟ้กใๆไผใฃใฆใใใฆๅฉใใใพใใ๏ผ
๐ค User B: ใใคใงใใฉใใ๏ผ
Thanks for helping with the homework!
Anytime!
Use: Everyday politeness with some formality.
12. ใใใใใๆใใพใ (Arigataku omoimasu) โ “I feel grateful”
Example:
๐ค User A: ใใชใใฎ่จ่ใใใใใใๆใใพใใ
๐ค User B: ใใ่จใฃใฆใใใใฆๅฌใใใงใใ
Iโm grateful for your words.
Iโm happy to hear that.
Use: Formal, often written or said with sincerity.
13. ๆ่ฌใใใใพใ (Kansha itashimasu) โ “Humbly thank you”
Origin:
Very humble form used in customer service, letters, or public speaking.
Example:
๐ค User A: ๆฌๆฅใฏใๆฅๅ ดใใใ ใใ่ช ใซๆ่ฌใใใใพใใ
๐ค User B: ใใกใใใใ่ฒด้ใชใ่ฉฑใใใใใจใใใใใพใใใ
We sincerely thank you for attending today.
Thank you for your valuable talk.
Use: Ultra-formal and respectful.
14. ใฉใใใใฟใพใใ (Doumo sumimasen) โ “Iโm truly sorry (and thank you)”
Example:
๐ค User A: ้ใ่ท็ฉใๆใฃใฆใใใฃใฆใใฉใใใใฟใพใใใ
๐ค User B: ใใใใใๆฐใซใชใใใใ
Thank you (and sorry) for carrying that heavy bag.
Please donโt mention it.
Use: Polite and apologetic gratitude.
15. ๆฏๅบฆใใใใจใใใใใพใ (Maido arigatou gozaimasu) โ “Thank you for your continued business”
Origin:
Used by shopkeepers or service providers in Japan to thank repeat customers.
Example:
๐ค Shopkeeper: ๆฏๅบฆใใใใจใใใใใพใ๏ผ
๐ค Customer: ใใกใใใใใพใๆฅใพใใญใ
Thank you for always shopping with us!
Thanks! Iโll be back soon.
Use: Business setting, customer service.
FAQs:
1. What is the basic word for โthank youโ in Japanese?
The basic word is โใใใใจใโ (Arigatou).
2. How do you say โthank you very muchโ in Japanese?
You say โใใใใจใใใใใพใโ (Arigatou gozaimasu) โ itโs more polite.
3. When should I use โarigatouโ vs. โarigatou gozaimasuโ?
Use โarigatouโ with friends and family.
Use โarigatou gozaimasuโ in formal or polite situations.
4. How do you say โthanks a lotโ in Japanese?
You can say โใฉใใใใใใจใโ (Doumo arigatou).
5. How do I say โthank youโ casually to friends?
Just say โใใใใจใ!โ with a friendly tone.
6. What is the most polite form of โthank youโ?
โใใใใจใใใใใพใโ (Arigatou gozaimasu) is standard polite.
For extra polite, you can say โใใใใจใใใใใพใใโ (Arigatou gozaimashita).
7. How do you say โthank you for everythingโ in Japanese?
Say โใใใใใใใใจใโ (Iroiro arigatou).
8. Do Japanese people bow when saying thank you?
Yes, often. A small bow shows respect and good manners.
9. Is tone important when saying thank you in Japanese?
Yes โ warm tone = friendly, soft tone = polite.
10. Can I just say โdoumoโ to mean thank you?
Yes, โใฉใใโ (Doumo) can mean thanks, but it’s very casual.
Conclusion:
Now that youโve learned how to say thank you in Japanese, youโre better prepared to express gratitude in a culturally respectful way.If you’re thanking a friend, a teacher, or a shopkeeper, using the right phrase shows thoughtfulness and appreciation.
Keep practicing these expressions, and youโll sound more natural and polite in every conversation. ๐โโ๏ธโจ
Small words of thanks can leave a lasting impression in Japanese culture.
