ありがとうございます

ありがとうございます is the polite form of "thank you."

Politeness levels

• ありがとう: casual/plain
• ありがとうございます: polite (present)
• ありがとうございました: polite (past/completed action)
• 誠(まこと)にありがとうございます: very formal

Common patterns

• ～てくださり、ありがとうございます: thank you for doing ~
• ～いただき、ありがとうございます: thank you for doing ~ (humble)
• いつもありがとうございます: thank you as always
• 本当(ほんとう)にありがとうございます: thank you very much

When to use past form

• Use ありがとうございました when:
• Thanking after receiving something
• The situation has concluded
• At the end of an interaction

Etymology

From 有(あ)り難(がた)い (rare/precious) + ございます (polite existence). Literally "it is a precious/rare thing."