How to Say Thank You in Japanese: 16 Expressions for Every Occasion

The Short Answer

The most common way to say thank you in Japanese is Arigatou gozaimasu (ありがとうございます, ah-ree-gah-toh goh-zah-ee-mahs). It is the polite, all-purpose expression of gratitude that works in nearly every situation, from thanking a cashier to expressing appreciation to your boss. But Japanese gratitude runs much deeper than a single phrase, with a layered system of expressions that reflect social hierarchy, the degree of favor received, and even the speaker's emotional state.

Japanese is spoken by approximately 125 million people, according to Ethnologue's 2024 data. In Japanese culture, expressing gratitude correctly is not just polite; it is a social obligation. The Japan Foundation's 2021 survey found that thank-you phrases rank among the top three most-studied topics for the 3.8 million people learning Japanese worldwide, right alongside greetings and apologies.

"The Japanese concept of gratitude is inseparable from the concept of indebtedness. To thank someone is to acknowledge a debt, and the language reflects this with expressions ranging from simple appreciation to profound humility."

(Seiichi Makino, A Dictionary of Basic Japanese Grammar, The Japan Times, 1986)

This guide covers 16 essential ways to say thank you in Japanese, organized by formality: standard expressions, casual forms, formal and business language (keigo), apology-based thanks, and common responses to gratitude. Each includes Japanese script, romaji pronunciation, and cultural context so you know exactly when and where to use it.

Quick Reference: Japanese Thank-You Expressions at a Glance

Standard Thank-You Expressions

These are the core expressions of gratitude in Japanese. According to the Agency for Cultural Affairs' 2023 National Language Survey, arigatou gozaimasu is the single most frequently used polite expression in the Japanese language.

ありがとうございます (Arigatou gozaimasu)

The word arigatou comes from the classical adjective arigatai (有り難い), which literally means "difficult to exist" or "rare," expressing that what the other person did was something precious and uncommon. The suffix gozaimasu elevates it to polite speech. This etymological depth reveals how deeply embedded gratitude is in the Japanese worldview.

When speaking to anyone outside your close circle -- a shop clerk, a colleague, your neighbor, a waiter -- arigatou gozaimasu is the correct choice. According to NHK World-Japan's language education materials, it accounts for the vast majority of thank-you exchanges in daily Japanese life.

ありがとう (Arigatou)

Simply drop the gozaimasu and you have the casual thank-you. The shift between arigatou and arigatou gozaimasu mirrors the ohayou / ohayou gozaimasu pattern, one of the clearest demonstrations of Japanese politeness levels in action. Use arigatou with people you are close to: friends, siblings, classmates, romantic partners.

どうもありがとうございます (Doumo arigatou gozaimasu)

Adding doumo (which roughly means "indeed" or "truly") before arigatou gozaimasu amplifies the gratitude. This is the expression you reach for when a simple thank-you does not feel sufficient, when someone has gone well out of their way, given you a generous gift, or done something particularly thoughtful.

ありがとうございました (Arigatou gozaimashita)

Japanese distinguishes between thanking someone for something ongoing (arigatou gozaimasu) and something already completed (arigatou gozaimashita). The past tense -mashita ending signals that the favor or event has concluded. You will hear this at the end of every restaurant meal, shopping transaction, and business meeting in Japan.

Casual and Slang Thank-Yous

Among friends, coworkers of the same rank, and younger speakers, Japanese offers several relaxed ways to express thanks. You will hear these constantly in anime, Japanese films, and everyday street conversation.

どうも (Doumo)

Doumo is a linguistic Swiss army knife. Depending on context and tone, it can mean "thanks," "hello," "sorry," or simply serve as a vague acknowledgment. As a thank-you, it occupies the most casual end of the spectrum, a quick nod of appreciation for minor favors. You might hear a salary worker say doumo to a colleague who hands them a document, or a friend who passes the soy sauce.

サンキュー (Sankyuu)

Japanese borrows heavily from English, and sankyuu is one of the most common loanword expressions. Written in katakana (the script reserved for foreign words), it carries a lighthearted, playful tone. You will hear it among high school and university students, in casual workplaces, and throughout Japanese pop culture. It is never appropriate in formal settings.

あざす (Azasu)

Azasu compresses arigatou gozaimasu into two syllables, stripping away all formality. It emerged from young male speech patterns and is roughly equivalent to texting "thx" in English. Using it with anyone outside your close peer group would sound disrespectful, but among friends it conveys a breezy, effortless gratitude.

Apology-Based Thank-Yous

One of the most distinctive features of Japanese gratitude is that it frequently overlaps with apology. When someone does a favor for you, Japanese culture often emphasizes the burden you have placed on them rather than the benefit you received. This produces thank-you expressions rooted in apology and humility.

すみません (Sumimasen)

Sumimasen literally means "it does not end," referring to one's feeling of indebtedness. When someone holds an elevator for you, carries your bags, or goes out of their way to help, sumimasen often feels more natural to a Japanese speaker than arigatou. According to Makino and Tsutsui's grammar dictionary, the overlap between apology and gratitude in Japanese reflects the cultural priority placed on acknowledging the other person's effort and inconvenience.

恐れ入ります (Osore irimasu)

Osore irimasu sits at the peak of formal gratitude. The literal meaning ("I am filled with fear/awe") reveals just how far Japanese honorific language takes the concept of humility. This expression is standard in high-end customer service, formal business correspondence, and interactions where you want to show the deepest respect. You will hear hotel staff, bank employees, and department store workers use it regularly.

お手数おかけしました (Otesuu okake shimashita)

This expression is the formal way of saying "sorry for the trouble" as a form of thanks. Tesuu means "effort" or "trouble," and okake shimashita means "I caused." It is extremely common in business Japanese. You will see it in emails after a colleague processes a request, a technician fixes an issue, or an administrator handles paperwork on your behalf.

Meal-Related Gratitude

Japanese has dedicated expressions of gratitude specifically for food, a reflection of how deeply food culture and appreciation are woven into daily life.

いただきます (Itadakimasu)

Itadakimasu is the humble form of itadaku (to receive). Said before every meal with palms pressed together, it expresses gratitude to everyone and everything involved in bringing the food to the table: the cook, the farmers, the fishermen, and even the ingredients themselves. According to the Agency for Cultural Affairs, over 90% of Japanese people say itadakimasu before meals.

ごちそうさまでした (Gochisousama deshita)

The counterpart to itadakimasu, spoken after a meal is finished. The kanji for chisou (馳走) originally meant "to gallop" or "to rush around," referring to the effort a host put into preparing a feast. By saying gochisousama deshita, you are acknowledging all the labor behind the meal. In restaurants, saying this to the chef or staff as you leave is standard practice.

Workplace Gratitude

お疲れ様です (Otsukaresama desu)

While otsukaresama desu also serves as a workplace greeting, it is first and foremost an expression of gratitude -- thanking colleagues for their hard work and shared effort. If you work in Japan, this will be the thank-you expression you use most frequently. It is said when passing colleagues in hallways, at the end of meetings, and when leaving the office for the day.

How to Respond to Thank-Yous in Japanese

Knowing how to accept thanks gracefully is as important as expressing it. Japanese culture strongly favors deflecting gratitude, and accepting a thank-you too directly can feel boastful. These responses help you handle that cultural expectation.

どういたしまして (Dou itashimashite)

Dou itashimashite is the standard textbook response, but many Japanese speakers actually use it less frequently than learners expect. In casual conversation, shorter deflections are more common. That said, it remains perfectly appropriate and is always understood.

いいえ (Iie)

Responding to a thank-you with "no" might seem odd to English speakers, but in Japanese it is one of the most natural responses. By saying iie, you are humbly denying that whatever you did was worthy of thanks -- a response that aligns perfectly with Japanese modesty norms.

とんでもないです (Tondemo nai desu)

Tondemo nai literally means "absurd" or "outrageous," as in, the very idea that you deserve thanks is absurd. It is a stronger deflection than iie and is common in business settings. The addition of desu keeps it polite without being overly formal.

How to Respond to Japanese Thank-Yous: Summary

Practice With Real Japanese Content

Reading about gratitude expressions builds your knowledge, but hearing them spoken naturally, with proper intonation, timing, and social context, is what makes them stick. Japanese films and dramas are ideal for this because characters constantly shift between casual arigatou with friends and formal arigatou gozaimasu with superiors, giving you a natural feel for when each expression fits.

Wordy lets you watch Japanese movies and shows with interactive subtitles. Tap on any thank-you expression to see its meaning, romaji pronunciation, formality level, and cultural context in real time. Instead of memorizing phrases from a list, you absorb them from authentic conversations with native speakers.

For more Japanese content, explore our blog for language guides including the best movies to learn Japanese. You can also visit our Japanese learning page to start practicing with real content today.