Mastering Thank You in Japanese: 9 Key Phrases

You might be familiar with the phrases ありがとう (Arigatou) and its more formal counterpart ありがとうございます (Arigatou gozaimasu). However, Japanese offers a rich variety of expressions to convey gratitude!

Let’s start with the variations of the simple ありがとう Arigatou:

ありがとう
Arigatou
Thank you

どうもありがとう
Doumo arigatou
Thanks a lot

ありがとうございます
Arigatou gozaimasu
Thank you (This is more polite than ありがとう Arigatou.)

どうもありがとうございます
Doumo arigatou gozaimasu
Thank you very much

どうも
Doumo
Thanks

Let’s move on to more advanced expressions now!

ありがとうございました
Arigatou gozaimashita

The phrase ありがとうございました (Arigatou gozaimashita) is the past tense form of “thank you” in Japanese. It’s typically used to express gratitude for something that has already occurred. For instance, you might say it to your teacher at the end of a lesson or to your host as you leave a gathering. This past tense form is also appropriate for use in thank-you letters.

すみません
Sumimasen 

恐れ入ります
Osoreirimasu

You may associate the Japanese word すみません (sumimasen) with “Excuse me” or “I’m sorry,” and you’re correct! However, it also serves as a way to express gratitude. It might seem unusual that one phrase conveys both apologies and thanks, but it makes sense in Japanese culture. When you use すみません to thank someone, you’re acknowledging the effort they’ve put in on your behalf, essentially “apologizing” for the inconvenience caused by your request—regardless of whether you asked for it or not. This dual usage embodies a deep sense of politeness!

For instance, when someone presents you with a gift, expressing your gratitude with “すみません” (Sumimasen) shows that you appreciate the effort they put into selecting something special for you.

The phrase “すみません” (sumimasen) is a wonderfully polite expression in Japanese. You can even combine it with other phrases for added emphasis! For instance, you might say, “どうもすみません、ありがとうございます” (Doumo sumimasen, arigatou gozaimasu), which translates to “Thank you very much, and I’m really sorry!” This layering of expressions enhances your politeness and shows your gratitude.

Another way to say “thank you” in Japanese is 恐れ入ります (Osoreirimasu). This phrase is not commonly used in everyday conversation; instead, it’s a formal expression often favored by professionals when interacting with clients.

As previously mentioned with すみません (Sumimasen), the phrase 恐れ入ります (Osoreirimasu) serves as a gracious way to express gratitude, particularly when recognizing the effort someone has made on your behalf. Think of 恐れ入ります (Osoreirimasu) as the more formal and respectful counterpart to すみません (Sumimasen)!

It’s important to understand the nuances of these Japanese expressions. While “すみません” (sumimasen) can mean both “Excuse me” and “I’m sorry,” “恐れ入ります” (osoreirimasu) is specifically used to express gratitude and cannot be used for apologies.

While you might want to avoid using 恐れ入ります (osoreirimasu) with friends and family, employing this phrase to express gratitude towards customers, bosses, or strangers can make a lasting impression!

For more Japanese tips, visit our Japanese learning hub. Or, find your online Japanese tutor.