ありがとう

あ

り

が

と

う

Common wordJLPTN4Freq.FrequencyTop 200

Meanings

usually written using kana alone

The most common expression of gratitude in Japanese. Used in casual and polite situations; more formal variants include ありがとうございます and ありがとうございました.

どうもN4
どうも is a casual, often abbreviated way of expressing thanks that can also mean 'hello' or 'very' depending on context, while ありがとう is the standard everyday word for thank you.
サンキューN1
ありがとう is the standard, neutral-to-polite way to say thanks, while サンキュー is a casual English loanword used mainly among friends.
メルシー
ありがとう is the standard, neutral Japanese way to say thank you, while メルシー is a French-derived casual variant used for a stylish or playful effect.
すみませんN4
ありがとう is a plain expression of thanks, while すみません adds a nuance of apology for the trouble caused when thanking someone.

Show 4 more

どうもありがとう
ありがとう is the plain 'thank you', while どうも有難う adds どうも for a more emphatic 'thank you very much'.
ありがと
ありがとう is the standard, polite form of thanks, while ありがと is a casual shortening used with close friends or family.
だんだんN5
ありがとう is the standard Japanese word for 'thank you', while だんだん is a regional (Izumo dialect) equivalent with the same meaning.
ありがとうございました
ありがとう is the casual, everyday form used with friends or family, while 有難うございました is the formal past-tense version used in polite or business contexts.

サンクス
ありがとう is the standard, neutral way to say thanks in Japanese, while サンクス is a casual English-derived loanword used only in informal, playful contexts.
ありがとうございますN5
ありがとうございます is the polite form used with strangers or in formal settings, while ありがとう is the casual form used with friends and family.

ありがたいN2
ありがとう is the fixed spoken expression 'thank you', while ありがたい is the descriptive adjective for the feeling or quality of being grateful/appreciated.

ありがとうUsage93%
Standard kana spelling; the word is almost always written in kana.
有難ありがとうUsage5%
Kanji spelling, occasionally seen in formal or literary contexts.
有あり難がとうUsage1%
Alternate kanji spelling with okurigana; very rare.
アリガトウUsage<1%

The ウ音便 form of ありがたく, the adverbial form of 有り難い. It became a conventional expression of thanks.