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🙏💖

How to Say ‘Thank you very much.’ in Japanese

ありがとうございます。

arigatou gozai masu

[ah-ree-gah-toh goh-zye mahs]

🇯🇵 In Japan: This is the standard polite thank-you in service situations. Customers say it to staff, and staff may also say it to customers at the end of an interaction.

Phrase Breakdown

ありがとう

arigatou

[ah-ree-gah-toh]

thank you

A common expression of thanks; here it is part of a polite phrase.

Example

案内をありがとうございます。

Thank you for the guidance.

ござい

gozai

[goh-zye]

to be; polite part of expression

Part of the polite set phrase ありがとうございます, adding formality.

Example

ご親切にありがとうございます。

Thank you for your kindness.

ます

masu

[mahs]

polite ending

Polite ending completing the formal thank-you expression.

Example

本当にありがとうございます。

Thank you very much.

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