“Arigatou” & The Many Ways Of Saying Thank You In Japanese

Besides mushy sayings, a polite “thank you” never fails to make you feel nice and appreciated. And in Japanese culture, a “thank you” is an important part of almost all daily conversations. Although, it isn’t as straightforward compared to other ways of expressing gratitude in different cultures. Therefore, as you might have guessed, there are many ways of saying “thank you” in Japanese. There are formal thank-yous. There are informal thank-yous. There are casual thank-yous. Yes, Japanese thank-yous can be very specific. That’s why it’s very important to remember the different versions of saying thanks in Nihongo.

• (formal) Thank you: ありがとう (arigatou)
• (informal) Thank you: ありがとう (arigatou)
• (formal) Thank you very much: ありがとうございます (arigatou gozaimasu)
• (informal, casual and said to friends) Thanks: どうも (doumo)
• (formal, extra polite) Really, thank you very much: 本当に ありがとう ございます (hontoni arigatou gozaimasu)
• (informal, slang) Thanks: あざーす (azaasu)
• (formal, extra polite) Thank you very much: どうも ありがとう ございます (doumo arigatou gozaimasu)
• (formal) Thank you for helping me: おせわになりました (osewa ni narimashita)
• (formal, used in the Kansai & Kyushu areasu) Thank you: おおきに (ookini)
• (informal, used in the Kansai & Kyushu areasu) Thank you: おおきに (ookini)
• (informal) Thank you for the meal: ごちそうさまでした (gochisousamadeshita)
• (formal, to say thanks with an apology) Thank you: すみません (sumimasen)
• (informal, to say thanks with an apology) Thank you: すみません (sumimasen)
• (informal, to say thanks with an apology) Thanks: 悪いな (warui na)
• (formal, polite and humble) Thank you very much: 拝謝申し上げます (haisha moushiagemasu)
• (formal) I am grateful: 感謝します (kansha shimasu)