Thank you in Japanese: ありがとう and 6 more ways to express gratitude
“Thank you” in Japanese is ありがとう (arigatō), more polite is ありがとうございます (arigatō gozaimasu). Short and friendly: どうも (dōmo). In response, people more often nod or say いいえ (iie): the textbook どういたしまして sounds formal in real speech. In romaji it reads “arigatō”, where the macron indicates a long “o” sound.
Japanese gratitude grows with the bow: the lower the head, the longer the phrase. “Arigato” is a nod to a friend. “Arigato gozaimasu” is a bow to a shopkeeper. And in response to a big favor, a Japanese person will also add “sumimasen” — an apology for having troubled you.
How to say “thank you” in Japanese
| Japanese | Reading | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| ありがとう | arigatō | Thank youto friends, peers, close ones |
| ありがとうございます | arigatō gozaimasu | Thank you very muchuniversally polite: to a shopkeeper, colleague, stranger |
| どうもありがとうございます | dōmo arigatō gozaimasu | Thank you so muchfor a real favor, not a trifle |
| どうも | dōmo | Thanks; yeah, thanksbriefly, almost on the go |
| すみません | sumimasen | Excuse me; thank you (for the trouble)when gratitude is mixed with awkwardness |
| お世話になりましたおせわになりました | o-sewa ni narimashita | Thank you for your carewhen leaving an office, hospital, after prolonged help |
| 感謝しますかんしゃします | kansha shimasu | I am gratefulin writing and formally; in speech it sounds bookish |
How “thank you” is written in Japanese letters
ありがとう is five hiragana characters: あ-り-が-と-う. The final う is not read separately; it lengthens the “o” in と. The word can also be written with kanji — 有難う — but this is rare: in letters, signs, and handwriting, hiragana is more often used.
What to reply to “arigato”
| Japanese | Reading | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| どういたしまして | dō itashimashite | You're welcometextbook answer; in real speech it sounds less common than in phrasebooks |
| いいえ | iie | Oh, not at allthe most common answer along with a slight nod |
| とんでもないです | tondemonai desu | Oh, it's nothingpolitely brush off gratitude |
When it's better not to say “thank you”
- You don't reply “thank you” to a compliment: a Japanese person would rather say そんなことない (“no, not at all”) — accepting praise directly is considered bragging.
- For a big favor, instead of gratitude, an apology すみません often follows: you took someone's time, and that is acknowledged first.
- In a store, it's the shopkeeper who thanks, not the customer — ありがとうございました flies at your back, no need to respond.
- “Arigato” to a boss sounds too simple: there you need the full form with ございます.
Say “arigato” out loud and check your pronunciation
FAQ
How to say “thank you” in Japanese?
ありがとう (arigatō) is the usual “thank you”. ありがとうございます (arigatō gozaimasu) is the polite form, appropriate almost always. どうも (dōmo) is a short “thanks” on the go.
How to say “thank you very much” in Japanese?
どうもありがとうございます (dōmo arigatō gozaimasu). This is the strongest everyday form; どうも at the beginning works like “very”.
How is “thank you” in Japanese written in romaji?
“Arigatō” — the macron over the “o” means a long “o”, held twice as long as usual. The full polite form is “arigatō gozaimasu”, with a voiceless “s” at the end and the “u” barely heard.
What is the difference between “arigato” and “dōmo”?
どうも is shorter and more casual — like the English “thanks”. ありがとう is neutral. Together they give emphasis: どうもありがとう — “thank you very much”.
What to reply if someone thanks you in Japanese?
Most often いいえ (iie) with a nod — “not at all”. The textbook どういたしまして sounds formal in real speech. Between close people, a smile is enough.
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