Japanese is a very interesting language, full of formalities, dialects and different ways of expressing yourself. So it's easy to imagine that "domo arigato" isn't the only way to thank a person.
In this article, we will learn more than 72 different ways to say thanks in Japanese, as well as the deep and traditional meaning of ”doumo arigato gozaimasu” [どうもありがとうございます].
"Domo arigato" in Japanese is spelled "doumou arigato" [どうもありがとう], but the spelling "domō arigatō" is not wrong, it's just a different type of romanization. This version is closer to pronunciation.
I feel uncomfortable writing “domo arigato” in this article, as I am used to writing “doumo arigato” and I think it's much more correct, but people tend to Google “domo arigato”, which comes close to pronunciation.
We also recommend reading:
- Romaji - The Romanization of the Japanese language
- What does Doumo [どうも] really mean?
- What is the meaning of Ohayou Gozaimasu?
The meaning of Domo Arigato Gozaimasu
We have already written an article talking about the meaning of “doumo”. In short, it can mean no matter how, anyway, in all cases, for some reason and things like that. In the case of “domo arigato”, the adverb “doumo” is used to express humility, and to convey an idea of a lot or a lot.
The word “arigatou” comes from the adjective “arigatai” [有難い] which means grateful, grateful or esteemed, and which gave rise to the adverbial conjugation “arigataku” [有り難く]. In reality the origin is much more complex and follows the following order:
ari + katashi → arigatashi → arigataku → arigatau → arigatō
In the past, the adjective “arigatai” was “arigatashi”, the combination of the words “ari” (infinitive of aru, verb to be) and the adjective “katashi” [難し] which means difficult. It originally means hard to be, it's rare, it's special or something to be grateful for.
The gamaimasu [ございます] that most often accompanies “domo arigato” is just a polite version of desu [です] and can be conjugated in the past tense with “arigatou gozaimashita” [ありがとうございました]. Its origin comes from the informal keigo language “sourou” and “gozaru”.
In short, apparently “domo arigato conveys the idea of priceless gratitude, as if it were difficult to have something that can reward him for the deed, or difficult to have someone like the grateful person. Very different from the Portuguese thanks, which seems like the person was forced to do something.
As already mentioned in another article, the “doumo” [どうも] can mean thanks, quite, really, mostly, in some way despite, no matter how difficult, and it can also be a greeting like hello and goodbye.
“Domo” can be used as a greeting, which conveys a sense of appreciation. It's something you often hear when you enter or leave an establishment. “Hai Domo” is often used for introductions and means Hello Everyone! Hai domo even became a meme on the internet due to Kizuna Ai.
We also recommend reading:
- The meaning of Desu and DA(です/だ) in Japanese
- Keigo – Formality in the Japanese Language
- Yoroshiku Onegaishimasu, What does it mean?
Gozaimasu vs Gozaimashita
Simply saying “arigatou” [ありがとう] is an informal way of saying thank you. If you're thanking someone you don't know, it's best to use the respectful form “arigatou curtiimasu” [ありがとうございます] in the present tense or “arigatou gozaimashita” [ありがとうございました] in the past tense. But how do you know when to use each one?
We can use arigatou gozaimasu when we are giving thanks for something that is going to happen or is happening. The arigatou gozaimashita already for something that has already happened in the past or has just happened.
There are no specific time rules for using each one, sometimes you enter a store and I've heard arigatou gozaimashita, you must be confused, but the store owner is thanking you for entering the store and not for the purchase you are going to make . Likewise, it's okay to say arigatou gozaimasu after purchase, but it's okay to use gamaimashita.
Complementing the Arigato
It's not just the “gozaimasu” needed in a formal thank you. We usually use “Doumo arigatou gozaimasu” [どうもありがとうございます] to thank someone we want to show a lot of respect for.
Sometimes it is normal for people to use only the “doumo” hiding the “arigatou curtiimasu”, but this should only be used between friends, because it can be rude or confused with a greeting.
When we want to thank you with all our hearts, or we want to say “I really thank you” or “I am really grateful” we can use the word “hontouni” [本当に] instead, which means really and truly.
When someone thanks you, you can respond by saying “dou itashimashite” [どう致しまして] which means nothing, in no way or pleasure is mine. You can also say "iie" which gives the impression of "it was nothing" or "no need", but it should be used informally according to the occasion, as it also means no.
Summarizing the Arigato Gozaimasu Dome
With just these 3 words, we already have 10 different ways to say thank you, which are:
- Hontou ni arigatou gozaimasu
- Doumo arigatou gozaimasu
- Arigatou gozaimasu
- doumo
- arigatou
- Hontou ni arigatou
- Arigatou gozaimashita
- Doumo arigatou gozaimashita
- Hontou ni arigatou gozaimashita
- Verbs in the T form + kurete arigato
The “kurete arigatou [くれてありがとう] allows you to thank using a verb. As an example we can use “tetsudatte kurete arigatou”[手伝ってくれてありがとう] which means thank you for helping me [手伝う].
The kurete [くれて] is like a “for” or thank you “for”, since the kurete indicates the giver, the one who does something for you. You can further formalize the sentence using the gozaimasu [ございます].
You can use a noun + “arigato” to say thanks for things. If Someone sends a message, you can say “messegi arigatou” [メッセージありがとう] and things like that.
Different Ways to Say Thank You in Japanese
There are thousands of ways to say thank you in the Japanese language, many alternatives to arigatou gozaimasu. Below are some of these ways:
Otsukaresama and Gokurosama – Thanking you for your work
At Work we use the expression “otsukaresama deshita” [お疲れ様でした] which means thank you for your work. Used to thank you for your effort or work.
Another way is using the expression “Goukurosama” [ご苦労様] which also means thank you for your hard work.
Sumimasen and Moushiwakenai – Apologizing
Using apologies like “Sumimasen” [すみません] can be interpreted as a thank you, such as “sorry you had to do this”.
Moushiwakenai [申し訳ない] – Means I'm sorry, but it can come across as a thank you for doing a certain thing.
We also recommend reading:
- The habit of apologizing in Japanese society
- What is the difference between Sumimasen and Gomennasai?
- Sorry! 23 ways to apologize in Japanese
Thanking you on specific occasions
okagesamade [お陰様で] – Used to ask how we are doing. It can convey an idea of thanks, such as thanks to God or thanks to you.
kekkou [結構] indicates that it is enough, that you don't need it anymore. It can summarize a thank you, equivalent to the thanks we use when rejecting something. It can also indicate that something was beautiful and delicious.
omataseshimashita [お待たせしました] Thanks for waiting, sorry for the delay;
Daijoubu [大丈夫] means ok don't worry but it could be a “no thank you“, used to reject something.
Kanshashimasu [感謝します] a word that indicates gratitude and appreciation.
Gochisousamadeshita [御馳走様でした] – Used to say thank you for food after meals.
Itadakimasu [いただきます] – Used before meals to say thanks for the food.
Thank you in Japanese over the Internet
beyond the traditional sankyu, on the internet young people usually write abbreviated and varied forms of arigatou that are:
- あざす。Azusu;
- ありー。Arii;
- あーと。act;
- 39 – Representation of sankyu;
Archaic Thanks in Japanese
katajikenai (忝い) – An old way of saying thank you that literally means grateful, a heartfelt thank you.
Osore irimasu [おそれいります] – A form rarely used nowadays, but used to thank customers. You can also highlight your incompetence and thank you for some teaching.
Thank you in Japanese derived from other languages
Some Japanese foreigners or who have spent time abroad may use some slang or ways of thinking derived from other languages. See below:
- Sankyu [サンキュ] – From English Thank You;
- Merushii [メルシー] – From French Merci;
- goulash [グラチェ] – From Italian Grazie;
Thank you in Different dialects of Japanese
Other ways to say thank you in Japanese vary by region and province. Remember that most of these ways are informal. Below we will leave a list of expressions used in each area:
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| Província | Romaji | Japonês |
| Aichi | Katashikenea | 型しけねぁ |
| Akita | Arigatodanshi | ありがとだんし |
| Aomori | Oarinandogoshi | おありなんどごし |
| Chiba, Saitama | Sumaneene | すまねーね |
| Ehime, Shimane, Tottori | Dandan | だんだん |
| Fukui, Toyama, Ishikawa | Kinodokuna | 気の毒な |
| Fukui | Yorokobidegozaimashita | よろこびでございました |
| Fukuoka | Ranranookii | らんらんおーきー |
| Fukushima | Arigadonae | ありがどなえ |
| Gifu | Yoshitayo | よしたよ |
| Gunma | Gottuosandesu | ごっつぉさんです |
| Hiroshima | Arigatoogozanshita | ありがとーござんした |
| Hokkaido | Arigadoosan | ありがどーさん |
| Hyogo | Ookiniarigatohan | おーきにありがとはん |
| Ibaraki | Arigadogozansu | ありがどござんす |
| Iwate | Oarigadogansu | おありがどがんす |
| Kagawa | Okamaina | おかまいな |
| Kagoshima | Okamaina | おかまいな |
| Kochi | Tamarumonkanoo | たまるもんかのー |
| Kumamoto | Choojyoo | ちょーじょー |
| Kyoto | Ookinisunmahen | おーきにすんまへん |
| Mie | Ookinna | おーきんな |
| Miyagi | Arigadogozarisuta | ありがどござりすた |
| Miyazaki | Okkin | おっきん |
| Nagano | Ogottsuama | おごっつあま |
| Nagasaki | Kataigenagozatsutazo | かたいげなござったぞ |
| Nara | Ookiniyoo | おーきによー |
| Niigata | Ogottsuosandesu | おごっつぉさんです |
| Oita | Ookeniranran | おーけにらんらん |
| Okinawa | Niheedeebiru | にへーでーびる |
| Osaka | Ookini | おーきに |
| Saga | Ookiin | おーきーん |
| Shiga | Gottuosandesu | ごっつぉさんです |
| Shiga | Sunmahendoshita | すんまへんどした |
| Shizuoka | Wariittsukene | わりーっけね |
| Tochigi | Arigadoogozeemasu | ありがどーごぜーます |
| Tokyo, Kanagawa, Tokushima e outras. | Arigatou | ありがとう |
| Wakayama | Ookiniwariyoo | おーきにわりよー |
| Yamagata | Oshooshina | おしょーしな |
| Yamaguchi | Arigatoogozarimashita | ありがとーござりました |
| Yamanashi | Arigatoogoisu | ありがとーごいす |
Videos about Arigatou Gozaimasu
I hope you enjoyed this article going deep into the meaning of “domo arigato and presenting 72 different ways to say thank you in Japanese. If you liked it, share it and leave your comments. 本当にありがとうございます!
To end the article, we will leave some complementary videos:
![What does Doumo [どうも] really mean?](https://skdesu.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/hanamachi-gueixas-250x175.jpg "What does Doumo [どうも] really mean?")
