How To Say ‘Thank You’ In Japanese (2023)

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Almost everyone knows how to say ‘thank you’ in Japanese using the word arigatou but as you probably guessed, there are many other ways to express gratitude!

Japan is a country with a long history of hierarchy and many layers of social etiquette which means we end up with many Japanese words for ‘thank you’, some being formal and some being casual. How you say ‘thank you’ to others depends on your relationship with them.

An interesting thing about saying ‘thank you’ in Japanese is that many words for ‘thank you’ share the meaning of ‘sorry’. This shows us a bit about the Japanese attitude towards politeness and humility.

People above your level in Japan (whether by age, status or rank within a workplace) are referred to as me ue no hito (目上の人) which literally means ‘superior people’ and this distinction greatly affects the words one chooses to say ‘thank you’ to another.

Naturally, we want to know the right way to thank somebody depending on the situation so that we can be respectful of cultural norms!

Here is our take on how to say ‘thank you’ in Japanese, and how to respond too! But at the end of the day, most people will appreciate your effort to memorize even just one of these Japanese words for thank you!

Table Of Contents

  1. Arigatou
  2. Doumo
  3. Otsukaresama desu
  4. Azasu
  5. Sankyu
  6. Sumimasen
  7. ~ no okage de
  8. Kansha shimasu
  9. Osore-irimasu
  10. Gokurousama deshita
  11. Special ways to say thank you in Japanese
  12. How to respond to thank you in Japanese

Arigatou

有難う / ありがとう

Thank you

Arigatou simply means ‘thank you’ and is the casual, short version of arigatou gozaimasu which we will talk about next. Arigatou can be used with people we know well, but it doesn’t have any honorific forms attached to it so it can feel like something is missing when you use it outside of close friendships.

It is believed the concept of arigatou comes from Buddhist teachings, that having another person do something for you is rare and precious and should not be taken for granted.

In fact, arigatou, when written with kanji looks like this 有難う and if we break down the characters meaning, we get:

有り:to have
難う:difficult

Which gives arigatou the meaning of ‘it is difficult to have’ (but I’m thankful).

Another theory suggests arigatou came from the Portuguese obrigado, brought to Japan by Catholic missionaries from Portugal.

While it’s origins may not be agreed upon, there are many variations of arigatou we can use which are created by putting words either before or after it as you will see in the next few examples!

Arigatou gozaimasu 

有難うざいます / ありがとうございます

Thank you very much

Arigatou gozaimasu is the polite and formal way to say ‘thank you very much’ in Japanese and is a phrase which most of us already know. The word gozaimasu is an honorific expression for the verb ‘to be’ and it is also used with ohaiyou (Good morning) as in ohaiyou gozaimasu.

Adding gozaimasu shows modesty and politeness, two values held highly in Japan.

Arigatou gozaimasu is the gold standard for saying ‘thank you’ in Japanese and is actually a form of keigo! Therefore, you cannot go wrong when using this phrase, though it might sound intense with people you are close to.

(Video) 3 Ways to Say Thank You in Japanese

The past tense of arigatou gozaimasu is arigatou gozaimashita which is used to say thank you to someone for an action that has already happened.

However some people say that we should always use the present tense form, arigatou gozaimasu, because our feeling of thankfulness never changes!

Doumo arigatou gozaimasu

どうもありがとうございます

Thank you very much (sonkeigo)

Doumo arigatou gozaimasu is also an honorific expression (humble, polite form) which is used in formal situations when you would like to express gratitude to someone of a higher position. It can also be used if you would like to lower your position before the speaker for receiving something of which you are grateful.

This is not an everyday phrase and should be reserved for highly formal occasions.

How To Say ‘Thank You’ In Japanese (1)

Hontoni arigatou gozaimasu

本当に有り難うございます / ほんとにありがとうございます

Thank you truly / greatly

Hontoni arigatou gozaimasu is a nice way to say you are truly thankful. Hontoni just means really or truly, and this expression has a nice balance of formal and casual because while it is a polite way to say thank you very much, hontoni makes it sound like it really comes from the heart!

Makotoni arigatou gozaimasu 

誠にありがとうございます / まことにありがとうます

Sincerely thank you very much

Makotoni arigatou gozaimasu is a formal way to say you are sincerely thankful and used mainly in business settings. Makotoni means the same thing as hontoni but is just an honorific equivalent.

For example if you were to buy something online, you might get an email from the company afterwards saying makotoni arigatou gozaimashita to thank you for your purchase. As you are the customer, you are addressed with the honorific version of thank you.

Iroiro arigatou gozaimasu 

色々有難うございます / いろいろありがとうございます

Thank you for everything

Iroiro arigatou gozaimasu is a nice variation of arigatou which means ‘thank you for everything’. This is a nice way to summarize your gratitude and thank someone whose help you can’t measure as they have been there for you in many ways.

Itsumo arigatou (gozaimasu)

いつも有難う / いつもありがとう

Thank you (very much) always  

To close, I share with you my favourite variation of arigatou which is itsumo arigatou! This is a casual expression that means thank you always and it’s a really sweet way to express your continued gratitude towards someone. You can easily make it formal by adding gozaimasu to the end!

Doumo

どうも

Thanks

Doumo is a common and polite way to say thanks for something. It’s short and sweet, and has a sense of being formal yet laid back.

Doumo comes from the Edo period and was originally part of the phrase dou mo ienu (どうも言えぬ)meaning there is no way to say it (言う is the verb for to say). It was used to express there are no words to express one’s appreciation for something.

People don’t say dou mo ienu any more because it was shortened to doumo in the Meiji period and has been used since.

Doumo can also be used to say ‘hello’ in Japanese depending on context!

Otsukaresama desu

お疲れ様です / おつかれさまです

Thank you for your effort / hard work

(Video) How to Say "Thank You" | Japanese Lessons

Otsukaresama desu is a way to thank others for their efforts, especially in a workplace setting. It means ‘Thank you for your hard work / effort’ and is usually said at the end of a work day or any event where people have worked together to achieve a common goal.

Otsukaresama desu can be shortened to just otsukaresama and is often said to every person within a workplace, from the staffroom to the office. Other situations would be between team members after practice or classes whether it be sports, music, cooking you name it!

How To Say ‘Thank You’ In Japanese (2)

It literally means ‘you are tired’ and with the honorific suffix -sama we can see that this is a form of keigo and is therefore a polite and formal way to address somebody.

The past tense of otsukaresama desu is formed by changing desu into the past tense deshita so that it becomes otsukaresama deshita (お疲れ様でした). Many people use this form when they respond to someone who is leaving the office.

In this case, the person leaving work would say ‘o saki ni shitsureishimasu’ (お先に失礼します)which literally means ‘I’m rude to leave before you’ and the formal response from colleagues would be otsukaresamedeshita (since the person has finished work).

When leaving work before others, you can say:

O saki ni shitsurei shimasu. Otsukaresama desu.
お先に失礼します。お疲れ様です
おさきにしつれいします。おつかれさまです。
I’m rude to leave before you. Thank you for your hard work / effort today

Even though we would never say this in English, in Japanese culture this is a normal and polite expression to honor your coworkers who remain in the office as you clock out.

Azasu

あざす 

Thanks

This post wouldn’t be complete without some slang and Azasu is the word you get when you say arigatou gozaimasu really fast! It’s super casual, slightly masculine and popular in written formats like chat, SMS and other online media.

Azasu should only be used with friends! You’d be considered disrespectful if you said this to someone like a boss or teacher.

Sankyu

サンキュ

Thank you

Sankyu (サンキュ)is a cute, informal way to say ‘thank you’ with Japanese-friendly pronunciation. As you can probably tell from the katakana, it IS the direct transcription of ‘Thank you’ into Japanese because the th sound is replaced with s to make sankyu.

Sankyu can be used with friends and has a slightly feminine and childish sound so it’s also used frequently by anime characters.

If you suddenly forget other ways to say thank you in Japanese, you can always just say sankyu! But it’s super casual and obviously borrowed from English so you’d probably want to keep this one for family and friends only!

How To Say ‘Thank You’ In Japanese (3)

Sumimasen

すみません 

Thank you (sorry to bother you)\

Sumimasen is a word most of us know as ‘sorry’ or ‘excuse me’ but it is also a common way to thank someone in Japanese, especially when you feel that you have in some way troubled them. You could consider it like ‘I’m sorry you had to go through this trouble for me, but thank you so much’.

For example, when I used to work in Tokyo, every now and then me and my colleagues would take turns getting each other’s lunch from the bento shop down the road. Whenever it was my turn, I would come back and drop them off on my colleagues desks with their change and many would say Sumimasen! Arigatou gozaimasu! (すみません!有難うございます!)

By saying sumimasen, you acknowledge the trouble someone had to go through to do something for you and because of that you are even more indebted for his or her kindness.

~ no okage de

〜のおかげで 

Thanks to ~

You can take a word or a name and use the の particle + okage de to direct your gratitude to someone in particular. It could be for a positive outcome or experience that you were able to have because of someone or something.

For example, if I had a friend named Yuki who helped me to study for a test and I passed that test, I could say to her:

Yuki-san no okage de, tesuto ni goukakushita.
由紀さんのおかげで、テストに合格した。
ゆきさんのおかげで、てすとにごうかくした。
Thanks to Yuki-san, I passed the test.

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How To Say ‘Thank You’ In Japanese (4)

Kansha shimasu

感謝します / かんしゃします

With gratitude

Sometimes we want to express a deep sense of gratitude for something and the word for doing so is kansha shimasu. Whether it’s something that somebody did for you or an opportunity or experience you were given, you can show how grateful you are by saying kansha shimasu which carries the meaning of thanks, appreciation and gratitude.

If we look at the kanji that makes up the word kansha we find that 感 means to ‘feel’ and 謝 means to ‘thank’ or ‘apologize’. The second half of the phrase is just shimasu, the polite form of the verb suru (to do).

We can get a sense that this phrase is one of humility and deep gratitude.

Osore-irimasu

恐れ入ります / おそれいります

I’m terribly sorry to have bothered you

Osore-irimasu is a very polite and humble expression which indicates gratitude for something which you feel the other person has gone out of their way for.

It’s not likely you will need to use this phrase often unless you work in Japan, but it’s good to know because it is a form of keigo used in many professional settings, especially customer service so you will certainly hear it if you visit Japan!

Gokurousama deshita

ご苦労様でした / ごくろうさまでした

Thank you (for completing a demanding task)

Gokurousama deshita is a workplace expression used by superiors to inferiors to say thank you for their work. It’s slightly masculine and old fashioned sounding and has a similar meaning to otsukaresama deshita as a farewell at the end of the work day.

Gokurousama deshita is normally a response to someone who has indicated they are leaving a formal environment such as an office, event or meeting, and is always said by someone of higher status.

Special ways to say thank you in Japanese

Itadakimasu

いただきます

I humbly accept

This is a nice way to show gratitude for the food you are about to eat before digging in. It can be like saying ‘thank you’ to the earth and animals that have provided it and the hands that have made it. Many people, especially women, also join their hands briefly in a prayer position when saying it.

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Gochisousama deshita

ご馳走様でした / ごちそうさまでした

Thank you for the delicious meal

Gochisousama deshita is a formal way to say thank you for all your restaurant outings in Japan! We know it is an honorific expression already because it contains the honorifics Go and –sama but It’s kind of long, so let’s break it down.

Go is the honorific prefix we learned about in Japanese Honorifics which makes an expression polite.

The next part, chisou 馳走 is a banquet (meal) and sama 様 is of course an honorific suffix. And as we learned earlier, deshita is the polite past tense (was).

So gochisousama deshita literally means ‘it was like a feast’, but is a commonly used way to thank the people involved in your dining experience. It is normally directed at the chef or staff themselves, and it is a very common and polite gesture before you leave the restaurant.

How to respond to thank you in Japanese

Iie

いいえ

Not at all

Iie is a simple and humble way to respond to someone who has said thank you. It literally means ‘no’ but in this context means ‘not at all’. Actually, many people will repeat the word when they say it, as in iie, iie, iie (no no no) and they may follow it with tondemonai desu (see below!).

Iiyo / Zenzen ii yo

いいよー / 全然いいよー

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No problem (at all)

Ii yo is a nice, casual way to say ‘it’s nothing!’ ‘it’s fine!’ or ‘not at all’. It’s common amongst friends, and sounds very native because it is colloquial!

The kanji for zen zen (全然) means completely / totally so if you want to emphasize that it was really nothing and not to worry, you can say zenzen ii yo !

Tonde mo nai

とんでもない

Don’t mention it

Tondemo nai is a casual way to say ‘no problem at all’, or ‘don’t mention it’ and is a personal favourite! I like this phrase because you can make it more polite by adding desu to the end to make it tondemo nai desu. It sounds very native especially when you pair it with iie as in the following dialogue:

A: Sumimasen! Arigatou gozaimasu!
すみません!ありがとうございます!
Thank you! Thank you very much!

B: Iie, iie, tondemonai desu!
いいえ、いいえ、とんでもないです!
No not at all, don’t mention it!

Dou itashi mashite

どういたしまして

You’re welcome

Dou itashi mashite is a formal response and is often translated to ‘You’re welcome’ in English but be careful, it has a very different nuance!

Native Japanese speakers rarely use this phrase because it means something more along the lines of ‘I helped you but don’t worry’, which can sound a little bit condescending, especially to people who are at or above your rank within a professional setting.

You would not say dou itashi mashite to your boss as it would be like saying ‘it was no big deal’!

Kochira koso

こちらこそ

The pleasure is mine / I should thank you

With Japanese culture being so focused on politeness, it’s normal to deflect praise of any kind! Kochira koso has a meaning of ‘I should be the one thanking you’ or politely saying ‘right back at you!’. People often say Kochira koso arigatou gozaimasu, which translates to ‘Thank you too’ but the actual meaning is my pleasure.

Tonde mo gozaimasen

とんでもございません

I feel sorry that you thanked me

Tonde mo gozaimasen is a more formal version of tondemo nai desu and although the translation sounds a bit weird (I feel sorry that you thanked me) it is a polite and humble expression used more in business settings and aimed at lowering the status of the speaker.

Thank you in Japanese

As you can see, there are a ton of ways to say thank you in Japanese for any occasion! Don’t be overwhelmed by this epic list – when in doubt, you can’t go wrong with a heartfelt arigatou gozaimasu. But if you’re looking for the best way to say thank you in Japanese for your specific situation, we hope this post helps you out.

More essential Japanese phrases:

  • How to Say Please in Japanese
  • How to Say Hello in Japanese: 19 Different Ways
  • How to Say Goodbye in Japanese: 16 Useful Ways
  • How to Say Sorry in Japanese: Apologize Like You Mean it
  • How to Say Yes in Japanese: ‘Hai’ and Beyond!
  • How to Say No in Japanese: 11 Ways

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Francesca Rex-Horoi

Francesca is a freelance copywriter and teacher, who moved to Tokyo from New Zealand at age 24. A linguistics and ESL major, she spent 3 years teaching at an all-boys high school. Now based in France, she remains a self-confessed Japanophile who loves kanji, cooking, cats and the outdoors.

FAQs

How do Japanese say thank you? ›

1. Arigato gozaimasu! / Thank you! This is a polite way of saying "thank you". While traveling in Japan, this is probably the most basic "thank you" phrase you'll be using.

How do you casually say thank you in Japanese? ›

Thank you in Japanese: Arigatou (ありがとう)

That's the most basic way of saying thank you and the phrase you'll often hear, especially in Japanese shows and anime. “Arigatou” is a casual phrase — much like “thanks” — that's usually said to family members, friends, partners, and people of the same age or younger.

Should I say arigato or Gozaimasu? ›

Arigato gozaimasu, a formal thank you

Arigato gozaimasu (sometimes transcribed in “Arigatou gozaimasu”) is a more polite way of saying “Arigato”. This is the most common form of politeness when you talk to someone who has a higher professional or social status than yours.

What do you reply after Arigatou? ›

Dou itashimashite” (どう致しまして) means “You're welcome” and is widely known as the common response to “arigato gozaimasu”, but it sounds rather stiff and formal. “Iie iie” (いいえいいえ) or “ii yo ii yo” (いいよいいよ) translate as “Not at all” and are casual replies that are more frequently used in daily life.

What Gozaimasu means? ›

' So what's going on with this? When you say “Good morning” politely, you say 'Ohayo gozaimasu. ' It's just the casual “Good morning,” 'Ohayo' with 'gozaimasu' at the end. The word 'gozaimasu' is a very polite expression and can roughly be translated as “am,” “is,” or “are” in English.

What does Domo mean Japanese? ›

DOMO means "very". It's especially helpful when stressing appreciation or making an apology. When you buy something at a store, store clerk would say "DOMO ARIGATOU", meaning thank you "very much". You can also use DOMO as a greeting like "hello". And just saying DOMO can mean a casual way of "thank you" like thanks.

Why do Japanese say sankyu? ›

So if someone texts you “39” or “3 9,” you can read it “san kyu”… a.k.a., “sankyu,” a Japanese-inflected version of the English, “thank you.” (You're welcome.) “39” has become common texting shorthand for gratitude in Japan, but it's only the tip of the numeric wordplay iceberg.

What is the most formal way of saying thank you in Japanese? ›

The word “arigatou” is often seen written in the Japanese alphabet of hiragana (ありがとう), and many of us are probably also familiar with the longer “arigatou gozaimasu” (ありがとうございます), which is a more formal way to thank someone.

Can you just say arigato? ›

As many things in Japan, it depends on the situation. In a casual situation, arigato is completely OK, while Domo arigato gozaimasu would not be the right thing to say. On the other hand, when you receive something precious or something from a respected person, saying just arigato would be rude.

Is Domo arigato rude? ›

' meaning “Thank you” to you, you can say 'Domo.” as the reply. Please note that some people consider 'Domo. ' is a little bit rude. It would be better to use 'Arigato.

What is hello in anime? ›

If you ever watched at least one anime series, you probably already know this: “hello” in Japanese is Konnichiwa.

Why do Japanese say san? ›

As a rule of thumb, in Japanese business life, the surname name is always followed by the honorific suffix “san” (meaning “dear” or actually “honorable Mr/Ms.”). There are of course many other options such as “sama” (highly revered customer or company manager) or “sensei” (Dr. or professor).

How do you say okay in Japanese? ›

How to Say Okay in Japanese, and the Top 5 Words to Get By
  1. Hai | はい Translation: Okay! This is an easy one, though it doesn't mean hello! ...
  2. Hajimemashite | はじめまして Translation: Pleasure to meet you! ...
  3. Kon'nichiwa | こんにちは Translation: Hello! ...
  4. Arigatō | ありがとうございました Translation: Thank you!
20 Aug 2017

What is Doitashimashite? ›

With a simple dou itashimashite, or “you're welcome” in Japanese! The dictionary and beginner Japanese phrase checklists would have you believe that's the only way to say “you're welcome” in Japanese.

How do you say thank you formally? ›

I sincerely appreciate your help. A formal way to express appreciation for someone's help. Please accept my deepest thanks. A very formal way to give thanks; mostly used in official written correspondence.

What is the meaning of Arigato Gozaimashita? ›

In Japan, arigato is a simple way of saying “thank you” among familiars or peers. Politeness is highly valued in Japanese culture, so be mindful that there are more formal ways to say “thank you” to superiors or elders (e.g., arigato gozaimasu, which is a more polite way of saying thanks).

How do you pronounce arigato gozaimasu? ›

How to pronounce ARIGATO in Japanese! - YouTube

What is Doitashimashite? ›

With a simple dou itashimashite, or “you're welcome” in Japanese! The dictionary and beginner Japanese phrase checklists would have you believe that's the only way to say “you're welcome” in Japanese.

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