Expressing gratitude is an essential part of Japanese culture, and using the correct level of formality is important when speaking to teachers, colleagues, customers, or strangers. Unlike English, where “thank you” is fairly universal, Japanese has different phrases for expressing thanks depending on politeness levels and social context.
In this guide, we’ll explore the best ways to say “thank you” in Japanese (formal) and how to use them properly.
Polite Ways to Say “Thank You” in Japanese
1. ありがとうございます (Arigatou gozaimasu) – “Thank You Very Much” (Polite & Common)
This is the most commonly used formal way to say “thank you” in Japanese. Adding ございます (gozaimasu) makes “ありがとう (arigatou)” more polite and suitable for professional or respectful interactions.
🔹 Example:
A: お手伝いしましょうか？ (O-tetsudai shimashō ka?) – Shall I help you?
B: ありがとうございます！(Arigatou gozaimasu!) – Thank you very much!
✅ Best used for:
- Speaking to teachers, coworkers, and strangers
- Interacting with store employees or customer service staff
- Expressing gratitude in a polite but common way
2. どうもありがとうございます (Dōmo arigatou gozaimasu) – “Thank You So Much” (Very Polite & Emphatic)
If you want to show extra appreciation, adding どうも (dōmo) before ありがとうございます makes your gratitude even stronger.
🔹 Example:
A: レポートをチェックしましたよ。(Repōto o chekku shimashita yo.) – I checked your report.
B: どうもありがとうございます！(Dōmo arigatou gozaimasu!) – Thank you so much!
✅ Best used for:
- Formal situations where extra politeness is required
- When someone has done something significant for you
- In business and customer service interactions
Very Formal & Business Ways to Say “Thank You”
In formal business environments, it’s important to show gratitude with extra politeness. Here are the best phrases for those situations:
3. 誠にありがとうございます (Makoto ni arigatou gozaimasu) – “Sincerely, Thank You” (Business-Formal)
誠に (makoto ni) means “sincerely” or “truly,” making this phrase highly formal and often used in business and customer service.
🔹 Example (Customer Service):
A: ご利用いただき、誠にありがとうございます。
(Go-riyō itadaki, makoto ni arigatou gozaimasu.)
Thank you very much for using our services.
✅ Best used for:
- Business emails and customer service interactions
- Professional speeches or formal company statements
- Thanking clients or customers in a highly respectful way
4. 感謝申し上げます (Kansha mōshiagemasu) – “I Humbly Express My Gratitude” (Highly Formal & Respectful)
This phrase is used in formal writing, business letters, or speeches and sounds extremely respectful and professional.
🔹 Example (Formal Speech):
皆様のご支援に心より感謝申し上げます。
(Minasama no go-shien ni kokoro yori kansha mōshiagemasu.)
I sincerely express my gratitude for everyone’s support.
✅ Best used for:
- Writing thank-you letters or emails
- Business settings where extreme politeness is needed
- Formal public speeches or presentations
Apologetic Ways to Say Thank You in Japanese
In Japanese culture, people sometimes use apologetic language to express gratitude, especially when someone goes out of their way to help.
5. すみません (Sumimasen) – “Excuse Me” but Also “Thank You” (Polite & Apologetic)
Although すみません (sumimasen) literally means “excuse me” or “sorry,” it’s often used to thank someone when they do something kind for you.
🔹 Example:
Someone holds the door open for you:
あなた: すみません！(Anata: Sumimasen!) – Thank you!
✅ Best used for:
- When someone helps you unexpectedly
- Thanking someone in a slightly humble way
- Casual but still polite situations
6. 恐れ入ります (Osoreirimasu) – “I’m Deeply Grateful” (Ultra-Formal & Apologetic)
This phrase is commonly used in highly polite customer service or business interactions, where you want to show deep humility and appreciation.
🔹 Example (Business Interaction):
A: 資料を用意しました。 (Shiryō o yōi shimashita.) – I have prepared the documents.
B: 恐れ入ります。 (Osoreirimasu.) – I deeply appreciate it.
✅ Best used for:
- Customer service situations
- Expressing gratitude in a very humble way
- High-level business environments
How to Respond to “Thank You” in Japanese
When someone thanks you in Japanese, here’s how you can politely respond:
💬 どういたしまして (Dō itashimashite) – “You’re welcome.” (Polite but slightly formal.)
💬 いえいえ (Ie ie) – “No, no” (Humble and friendly response.)
💬 とんでもないです (Tondemo nai desu) – “Not at all.” (Very polite and humble.)
💬 お役に立てて嬉しいです (O-yaku ni tatete ureshii desu) – “I’m happy to have helped.” (Professional response.)
Master Formal Japanese with Migaku
Want to learn how to use Japanese in real-life situations? With Migaku, you can:
✅ Practice listening and reading in real-world Japanese from anime, YouTube, and Netflix.
✅ Instantly look up words and hear native pronunciation for correct usage.
✅ Create smart flashcards with Spaced Repetition to remember formal phrases.
✅ Improve fluency by immersing yourself in natural Japanese conversations.
Whether you’re learning for business, travel, or personal growth, Migaku makes studying Japanese fun and effective.
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