1. Introduction
The Japanese language is full of unique expressions and slang words to express gratitude. Whether you are a tourist visiting Japan or a student learning the language, it is important to understand the various ways to say “thank you” in Japanese. In this article, we will discuss the various slang terms for saying “thank you” in Japanese, including arigato, otsukare, gokurosama and more.
2. Cultural Context
Japanese culture places a strong emphasis on politeness and respect. This can be seen in their language as well, where people often use polite phrases when speaking to someone they don’t know very well or when talking to someone of higher social standing than them. As such, there are many different ways to express gratitude in the Japanese language depending on the context and who you are speaking to.
3. Popular Expressions of Gratitude in Japan
The most common way of expressing gratitude in Japanese is with the word “arigato” (ありがとう). This is used as a polite way of expressing thanks and can be used both formally and informally depending on the situation. Other popular expressions of gratitude include “domo arigato” (どうもありがとう) which means “thank you very much” and “domo sumimasen” (どうもすみません) which means “excuse me” or “I apologize”.
4. Arigato and Other Ways to Say ‘Thank You’ in Japanese
In addition to arigato, there are other ways to say thank you in Japanese that may be more appropriate for certain situations or conversations. For example, if someone does something nice for you or helps you out with something, it would be more appropriate to say “doumo douzo yoroshiku onegaishimasu” (どうもどうぞよろしくお願いします), which translates roughly as “please accept my thanks for your kindness/help/etc.”
5. Otsukare and Other Everyday Slang for Thank You
In informal situations among friends or family members, it is common to use slang terms when expressing gratitude instead of using more formal phrases like arigato or domo arigato. One popular slang term for thank you is otsukare (お疲れ), which literally translates as “you must be tired” but is used colloquially as an expression of appreciation or gratitude for someone’s hard work or efforts. Another popular slang term for thank you is doumo (どうも), which can also be used as an expression of appreciation but is less formal than otsukare.
6 Gokurosama and Other Honorifics for Thank You
In very formal situations such as business meetings or interactions with customers at stores, it may be appropriate to use honorific expressions when expressing gratitude instead of using more casual phrases like otsukare or doumo. One example of an honorific expression that can be used is gokurosama desu (ご苦労様です), which translates roughly as “thank you very much for your hard work/efforts/etc.” This phrase conveys respect while still expressing appreciation for someone’s efforts.
7 Conclusion
In conclusion, there are many different ways to express gratitude in the Japanese language depending on the context and who you are speaking to. The most common way of expressing thanks is with the word arigato but there are also many informal slang terms such as otsukare and doumo that can be used when speaking with friends or family members. In very formal situations it may be appropriate to use honorific expressions such as gokurosama desu when expressing thanks instead of more casual phrases like otsukare or doumo.Knowing how to properly express gratitude in Japanese will help make sure that your conversations remain polite and respectful at all times!
8 FAQs
Q: What does Otsukare mean?
A: Otsukare (お疲れ) means “you must be tired” but is commonly used colloquially as an expression of appreciation or gratitude for someone’s hard work or efforts.
Q: What does Gokurosama mean?
A: Gokurosama desu (ご苦労様です) translates roughly as “thank you very much for your hard work/efforts/etc.” This phrase conveys respect while still expressing appreciation for someone’s efforts.
9 Resources
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https://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/easy/k10011394501000/k10011394501000-202009160021-202009160950-202009160950-1-1-1-1-1-1_d30e000_s1-d30e001_s1-d30e002_s1-d30e003_s1-.html
https://www3eewebprodcdnendpoint1888b5f5f9f0c8a7a93c511daecb7a37a6bcd8dbf9bb0cecdf6b8fbb08cfdd9c51f24@japaneselevelupcomwpcontentuploads201704JapaneseSlangPhrasesjpg
https://wwwjapantimescojp20190407culturetheresmorethanarigatotothankyouinjapanese
Can you just say Arigato?
As with most things in Japan. Arigato is perfectly normal under relaxed conditions while domo arigato guzimaso is inappropriate. On the other hand it is rude to just say arigato when receiving something valuable or something from someone you respect.
What is the difference between Okini and Arigato?
Ookini (pronounced with a long sound) is equivalent to English thank you or standard Japanese arigato. This is a common expression for Osaka-ben. Take it and youre sure to get loads of mileage out of it.
Do Japanese people say thank you a lot?
If you come to Japan you will often hear Japanese people say thank you and sorry. Why? This is because Japanese people are very polite to others. They also say thank you when they do something to help someone.
Is Domo arigato rude?
I can say thank you to Domo. As an answer some people think of Domo. Excuse me for a minute. Arigato is more convenient.
What is Moshi Moshi?
Moshi Moshi or もだもし is a Japanese phrase commonly used by Japanese people when answering the phone. It sounds like a normal greeting to friends and family but it actually means something completely different! In English it means say or I said.
What can I say instead of Arigato?
Thank you in Japanese: Tomo (どうも) Arikado means more to some Japanese. Instead they shorten the expression and respond with a simple domo that will do the trick.
