How to say thank you & youโre welcome in Japanese in 59 ways
Author
The Japanese word for thank you is 'arigato' โ isn't it enough to know?
I'm here to write a 1K+ word article on this topic. So yes, there's A LOT you can learn about Japanese expressions of appreciation! You'll discover context-appropriate phrases and the mentality and culture behind them. Interested? (I choose to assume you are.) Cool!
Table of contents
- What does โarigatoโ really mean?
- How to say thank you in Japanese
- Cultural considerations
- Youโre welcome in Japanese
- Japanese thank you songs
- Yonde kurete arigatล!
Anatomy of โarigatoโ
The word ใใใใจใ (arigatล) is derived from the old adjective 'ๆใ้ฃใ' (arigatashi). It means 'rare', therefore 'valuable'. Its adverb form 'ๆใ้ฃใ' (arigataku) became 'ๆใ้ฃใ' (arigatล), which is used to this day.
If you've heard the theory that 'ใใใใจใ' came from 'obligado', the Portuguese word for 'thank you', it's nothing but a myth.100%.
In this article, you'll see a couple of ways 'ใใใใจใ' is written in English alphabets. Before it confuses you, I'll clarify the difference.
Arigatล: The bar on the 'o' means an elongated sound. I spell this way in this blog as it represents the natural pronunciation.
Arigato: It's probably the most commonly seen spelling. If you don't elongate the last 'o', it might sound casual, blunt, or cute, depending on how you say it.
Arigatou: A lot of people also spell like this as it corresponds with each hiragana (ใ-a, ใ-ri, ใ-ga, ใจ-to, ใ-u). The 'ou' at the end doesn't really represent the correct pronunciation, but there's no problem writing this way as long as you know the right way to pronounce it.
How to say thank you in Japanese
Just as 'Thank you' is not the only expression of appreciation in English, there are many ways to convey gratitude in Japanese. Ranging from casual phrases to formal ones, situation-specific ones, and even 'thank you in disguise'.
The basics
Let's start with arigatล and its variations.
English | Hiragana | Kanji + Hiragana or Katakana | Romaji | Note |
Thank you. | ใใใใจใใ | Commonly written only in hiragana | Arigatล. | Casual |
ใใใใจใใใใใพใใ | Commonly written only in hiragana | Arigatล gozaimasu. | Polite | |
ใใใใจใใใใใพใใใ | Commonly written only in hiragana | Arigatล gozaimashita. | Polite Use only when you are thankful for what has already happened. | |
ใใใใ/ ใใใผใใ | Only written in hiragana | Azasu. / Azฤsu. | Slang Overly shortened โarigatล gozaimasuโ. Mostly used by young folks. | |
Thanks. | Commonly written only in katakana | ใตใณใญใฅใผใ | Sankyลซ. | Very casual English โthank youโ with Japanese pronunciation |
ใฉใใใ | Only written in hiragana | Dลmo. | Polite and informal | |
Thank you very much. | ใปใใจใใใใใจใใ | ๆฌๅฝใใใใจใใ | Hontล arigatล. | Casual โHontลโ may sound more like โhontoโ without the last โoโ elongated. |
ใปใใจใใซใใใใจใใใใใพใใ | ๆฌๅฝใซใใใใจใใใใใพใใ | Hontล ni arigatล gozaimasu. | Polite | |
ใฉใใใใใใจใใใใใพใใ | Commonly written only in hiragana | Dลmo arigatล gozaimasu. | Polite | |
Thank you for everything. | ใใใใใใใใจใใ | ่ฒใ ใใใใจใใ | Iroiro arigatล. | Casual |
ใใใใใใใใจใใใใใพใใ | ่ฒใ ใใใใจใใใใใพใใ | Iroiro arigatล gozaimasu. | Polite | |
Thank you for going out of your way. | ใใใใใใใใจใใ | Commonly written only in hiragana | Wazawaza arigatล. | Casual |
ใใใใใใใใจใใใใใพใใ | Commonly written only in hiragana | Wazawaza arigatล gozaimasu. | Polite | |
Iโm grateful to you. | ใใใใใใใใ | ๆ่ฌใใใใ | Kansha suru yo. | Casual The verb โๆ่ฌใใโ means โappreciateโ, and 'the noun 'ๆ่ฌโ means โgratitudeโ. |
ใใใใใใพใใ | ๆ่ฌใใพใใ | Kansha shimasu. | Polite | |
I couldnโt thank you more. | ใใใใใใฆใใใใใชใใใ | ๆ่ฌใใฆใใใใใชใใใ | Kansha shite mo shikirenai yo. | Casual |
ใใใใใใฆใใใใใพใใใ | ๆ่ฌใใฆใใใใใพใใใ | Kansha shite mo shikiremasen. | Polite |
In formal circumstances
It's time for Business Japanese โ in case you read above as 'Informal'. Use these phrases only towards people with higher status than you. (Not a fan of hierarchy? Me neither. *fist bump of solidarity*)
English | Hiragana | Kanji + Hiragana | Romaji | Note |
I am grateful. | ใใใใใใใใใพใใ | ใใใใใๅญใใพใใ | Arigataku zonji masu. | |
I appreciate it. | ใใใใใใใใพใใ | ๆ่ฌใใใใพใใ | Kansha itashimasu. | |
ใใใใใใใใใใพใใ | ๆ่ฌ็ณใไธใใพใใ | Kansha moushiage masu. | ||
Thank you very much. | ใพใใจใซใใใใจใใใใใพใใ | ่ช ใซใใใใจใใใใใพใใ | Makoto ni arigatล gozaimasu. | |
I canโt find a word to thank you. | ใใใใใฎใใจใฐใใใใพใใใ | ๆ่ฌใฎ่จ่ใใใใพใใใ | Kansha no kotoba mo arimasen. | |
Iโm awed [by what you said/did for me]. | ใใใใใใพใใ | ๆใๅ ฅใใพใใ | Osoreirimasu. | |
ใใใใใ ใใงใใ | ๆ็ธฎใงใใ | Kyลshuku desu. | ||
I would like to express my deepest gratitude. | ใใคใใใใใใใใใใใพใใ | ๅใใ็คผใ็ณใไธใใพใใ | Atsuku orei o mลshiage masu. | โใ็คผโ is gratitude expressed in the form of words, objects, or actions. |
I would like to express my cordial gratitude. | ใใใใใใใใใใใใใใใพใใ | ๅฟใใใ็คผใ็ณใไธใใพใใ | Kokoro yori orei o mลshiage masu. |
Thank you, but no thank you
Note: these phrases are often paired with a thank-you expression.
English | Hiragana | Kanji + Hiragana | Romaji | Note |
No, itโs OK. | ใใใใใ ใใใใใถใ | ใใใใๅคงไธๅคซใ | ลชn, daijลbu. | Casual |
ใใใใ ใใใใใถใงใใ | ใใใๅคงไธๅคซใงใใ | Ie, daijลbu desu. | Polite | |
No, thank you. | ใใใใใใ | Commonly written only in hiragana | Iya, ฤซ. | Casual |
ใใใใใใงใใ | Commonly written only in hiragana | Ie, ฤซ desu. | Polite | |
ใใใใใฃใใใงใใ | ใใใ็ตๆงใงใใ | Ie, kekkล desu. | Polite | |
No, please donโt mind me. / No, I donโt want to put you out. | ใใใใใใฅใใใชใใ | ใใใใๆฐ้ฃใใชใใ | Ie, okizukai naku. | Polite |
Iโll pass. | ใใใใใใจใใ | ้ ๆ ฎใใจใใ | Enryo shitoku. | Casual |
ใใใใใใฆใใใพใใ | ้ ๆ ฎใใฆใใใพใใ | Enryo shite okimasu. | Polite |
Appreciate without saying arigatล
Japanese has a wide range of ways to express appreciation. Some are specific to certain situations, and some may not sound grateful. Welcome to the rich and bewildering world of the Japanese style of gratitude.
English | Hiragana | Kanji + Hiragana | Romaji | Note |
Iโm sorry. | ใใพใใ | Only written in hiragana | Suman. | Very casual |
ใใใพใใใ | Only written in hiragana | Suimasen. | Polite and informal | |
ใใฟใพใใใ | Only written in hiragana | Sumimasen. | Polite | |
I owe you. | ใใใซใใใใ | ๆฉใซ็ใใใ | On ni kiru yo. | Casual |
ใใใซใใพใใ | ๆฉใซ็ใพใใ | On ni kimasu. | Polite | |
You helped me. | ใใใใฃใใใ | ๅฉใใฃใใใ | Tasukatta yo. | Casual |
ใใใใใพใใใ | ๅฉใใใพใใใ | Tasukarimashita. | Polite | |
I appreciate your support. | ใใใใซใชใใพใใใ | ใไธ่ฉฑใซใชใใพใใใ | Osewa ni narimashita. | Polite Only for the support youโve already received. |
I appreciate your hard work. | ใใใใใใใ | ใ่ฆๅดใใใ | Gokurล san. | Casual Can be used as either present or past tense. |
ใใใใใใพใงใใ | ใ่ฆๅดๆงใงใใ | Gokurล sama desu. | Polite Present tense Can be used only towards someone with lower status than you. | |
ใใใใใใพใงใใใ | ใ่ฆๅดๆงใงใใใ | Gokurล sama deshita. | Polite Past tense Can be used only towards someone with lower status than you. | |
Thank you for the meal. | ใใกใใใใพใ | Commonly written only in hiragana | Gochisล sama. | Casual โGochisลโ means โfeastโ. Say this when youโve finished the meal. |
ใใกใใใใพใงใใใ | ใ้ฆณ่ตฐๆงใงใใใ | Gochisล sama deshita. | Polite |
Cultural considerations
"Hey, I thought this blog post was about how to say thank you in Japanese. Why are there phrases for โI'm sorryโ?"
I love you for spotting that.
We're now looking into the unique mentality behind it and then the body language.
Why apologize?
Let's take 'ใใฟใพใใ' (sumimasen). Essentially, it's a word for an apology. But outside the private setting, you may hear it more often than 'ใใใใจใ' when you expect appreciation. As you saw above, there are more thank-you expressions in the form of apology. In fact, some Japanese native speakers may say "I'm sorry" in English when they actually mean "Thank you". What do they apologize for?
There's a sense of obligation or guilt behind it. "I was supposed to do it myself." "You had to make an effort for me." "Your kind offer is too good for me." We were taught to be self-sufficient and not to bother others. The majority of the Japanese people have a particularly strong sense of it. (Ever wondered why they're famous for being polite?) That's the reason the Japanese use expressions of apology to show gratitude.
Personally, I prefer using straightforward expressions of gratitude in any language. Suppose words hold temperature, 'thank you' or 'ใใใใจใ' would be warmer than 'I'm sorry' or 'ใใฟใพใใ' โ don't you think?
What about the gesture?
I've seen many times my non-Japanese pals say, "ใใใใจใใใใใพใ๏ผ" while bowing. It's okay as long as it's not directed towards me or their other friends.
Bowing is a polite gesture โcheck my 'How to say farewell & goodbye in Japanese in 35 authentic ways' article for more explanationโ and an appropriate way to show your gratitude with courtesy and respect.
Another thing I've seen is people saying "ใใใใจใใใใใพใ๏ผ" while bowing with their palms put together in front of their chest. (They mightโve got it from some martial arts ritual.) I had to give it a good think on this.
This gesture called ๅๆ (ใใฃใใใ - gasshล) comes from Buddhism and is used for greeting in other countries โ but not commonly so in Japan. There are occasions the Japanese still do ๅๆ today, such as when we request ("Pretty please!"), apologize, or before and after meals.
For 'no, thank you', people often quickly or subtly wave their hand(s) in front of their chest. And/Or they may shake their head, too.
I highly recommend smiling when you say thank you. It helps convey your gratitude more effectively. It possibly brightens someone's day.
Youโre welcome in Japanese
I would say the Japanese are generally not well-trained when it comes to receiving compliments, praise, or appreciation. (I was trained outside the country. Send some my way!) So, how do they respond to gratitude? Here are some examples.
English | Hiragana | Kanji + Hiragana | Romaji | Note |
You are welcome. | ใฉใใใใใพใใฆใ | Only written in hiragana | Dล itashimashite. | Polite Best not to use it toward someone with a higher status than you. |
No (itโs nothing). | ใใใ / ใใใใใ | Only written in hiragana | Iฬe / Ieie. | Polite and informal |
Thank YOU. | ใใกใใใใ | Only written in hiragana | Kochira koso. | Polite and informal |
ใใกใใใใใใใจใใใใใพใใ | Commonly written only in hiragana | Kochira koso arigatล gozaimasu. | Polite | |
Never mind. | ใใซใใชใใงใ | ๆฐใซใใชใใงใ | Ki ni shinaide. | Casual |
ใใใซใชใใใใ | ใๆฐใซใชใใใใ | Oki ni nasarazu. | Polite | |
Not at all. | ใจใใงใใชใใงใใ | Only written in hiragana | Tondemonai desu. | Polite |
Iโm glad you like it. | ใใซใใฃใฆใใใใฆใใใฃใใ | ๆฐใซๅ ฅใฃใฆใใใใฆใใใฃใใ | Ki ni itte moraete yokatta. | Casual |
ใใซใใฃใฆใใใใฆใใใฃใใงใใ | ๆฐใซๅ ฅใฃใฆใใใใฆใใใฃใใงใใ | Ki ni itte moraete yokatta desu. | Polite | |
I am glad I could help. | ใใใใซใใฆใฆใใใใใงใใ | ใๅฝนใซ็ซใฆใฆๅฌใใใงใใ | Oyaku ni tatete ureshฤซ desu. | Polite |
I am honored I could help. | ใใใใซใใฆใฆใใใใใงใใ | ใๅฝนใซ็ซใฆใฆๅ ๆ ใงใใ | Oyaku ni tatete kลei desu. | Formal |
'ใฉใใใใใพใใฆ' (dล itashimashite) is one of the textbook answers that native speakers don't use much. Basically, it means 'I've done nothing, please never mind.' While this phrase is still appropriate to use in response to "Thank you", it should NOT be used when addressing someone with a higher status than you.
Other than that, Japanese people might just smile, nod, or shake their heads at the words of gratitude. Or they may use a variation of 'yes' or 'no' for 'you're welcome'. Some Japanese guy friends of mine say โใใโ (ou) which means 'yes'. My late maternal grandparents would scrunch their faces, shake their heads, and make sounds that most likely represented 'no'. (I miss them all dearly.)
Japanese thank you songs
One thing I noticed while checking out some thank you songs; there are countless of them with lyrics like โI couldnโt say [thank you] for a long timeโ or โI feel a bit embarrassed to say [thank you]โ. Those songs are addressed to people close to the protagonists, and yes, the Japanese people seem to feel awkward to say serious thank you in private relationships. (I don't remember if/when my dad properly said thank you to me... *gasp*)
Hint: to find the song lyrics, type in the original song title, artist name, and 'ๆญ่ฉ' (kashi - lyrics) in the search box.
- ใใใใจใใฎ่ผช (Arigatล no wa) by ็ตข้ฆ (Ayaka)
Thank you, mother. Thank you, friend. Music is indeed a great way to send a message to your loved ones. - ใฉใผใใใใใจใ (Dลmo arigatล) by ๆงๅ ๆฌไน (Noriyuki Makihara)
Have you felt a torrent of gratitude realizing how much you owe someone for who you are today? - ใใ ใใใใใจใ (Tada, Arigatล) by MONKEY MAJIK
A love song written and performed by the Canadian-Japanese hybrid band based in northern Japan. (The Canadian brothers take the vocals and sing in Japanese.)
Yonde kurete arigatล!
I truly hope you'll have countless opportunities to say thank you (very much) in Japanese. Because it'd mean you're supported, cared for, and blessed. At this point, I have no clue what you're thinking or feeling about this article. Still, I'm grateful that you took the time to read all the way down to the bottom. ใใฎ่จไบใ่ชญใใงใใใฆใใใใใจใ๏ผ(Kono kiji o yonde kurete arigatล! - Thank you for reading this article!)