{"id":9916,"date":"2020-04-07T08:37:00","date_gmt":"2020-04-06T23:37:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/voyapon.com\/?p=9916"},"modified":"2025-01-20T18:06:01","modified_gmt":"2025-01-20T09:06:01","slug":"thank-japanese-arigatou","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/voyapon.com\/thank-japanese-arigatou\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Say Thank You in Japanese – Not Just \u201cArigatou\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

You might think saying “thank you” in Japanese is simple, but it\u2019s more nuanced than it seems. On any given day, I find myself using two key phrases: sumimasen<\/em> \u6e08\u307f\u307e\u305b\u3093<\/strong> (I\u2019m sorry) and arigatou<\/em> \u6709\u96e3\u3046 (thank you)<\/strong>. Interestingly, the line between these phrases can blur, as I\u2019ll explain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Japanese culture, apologizing is often more about politeness than admitting fault, as discussed in our previous article<\/a>. This is why <\/em>sumimasen is sometimes used to express gratitude, akin to saying, “Thank you for allowing me to inconvenience you.” While arigatou directly translates to “thank you,” mastering its use\u2014like apologies\u2014requires understanding cultural nuances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whether you’re traveling to Japan or learning the language, knowing when and how to say “thank you\u201d<\/em> is a key part of connecting with Japanese culture. Keep reading to discover the art of expressing gratitude and the subtle overlap with apologies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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