Chances are, you know how to say 'thank you' in Japanese, even if you have not formally learnt the language. However, the nature of Japanese people is to express appreciation and gratitude for the people around them, so there are many set phrases other than 'arigato gozaimasu' that they use to convey their sincere thanks. Just what are these phrases? And how can you use them in different situations? Picking up these phrases will help you interact smoothly with Japanese natives and endear yourself to them, so without further ado, let me introduce them!

Otsukaresama desu When I was working in Japan as an Assistant Language Teacher, my colleagues would say ‘お疲れ様です！’ (‘Otsukaresama desu!’) without fail every time we walked past each other in the corridors. They used it so frequently that I began to wonder just why it was so pervasively used in their daily interactions. Turns out that ‘Otsukaresama desu!’ means ‘it has been tiring for you, thank you’ and expresses others’ acknowledgement of your hard work. Although this phrase was rote for me because my colleagues just uttered it as if on auto-pilot, I soon came to familiarise myself with it and stating it myself. It was an uplifting phrase that exhorted me to do my best till the end of the working day! Another occasion where this phrase is commonly used is when a project is completed. Teammates will then typically say ‘Otsukaresama desu!’ to congratulate one another for a job well done – before going out for drinks to celebrate the occasion!

Gochisosama deshita Fervent fans of Japan will be familiar with ‘Itadakimasu’. It is part of a ritual of Japanese people before they tuck into their meal: clasp your hands and say ‘Itadakimasu’ (‘I humbly receive this meal’). As it turns out, Japanese people say another phrase ‘ご馳走様でした’ (‘Gochisosama deshita’) after finishing their meal. In the olden days, people used to ride on horses and gallop about everywhere to gather food for their guests, hence the word ‘馳走’ (running about). Of course, people these days do not have such an arduous time when they prepare food for their guests but nonetheless, their guests will still say ‘Gochisosama deshita’ in recognition of the love and attention showered by the chef during food making. Memorize this phrase and use it extensively, regardless of whether you are eating at a humble yatai (roadside) stall or a high-class restaurant. You are sure to worm your way into the hearts of the local chefs and even service personnel whom you encounter!

Osewani narimashita If a homestay or internship in the Land of the Rising Sun is in the works for you, ‘お世話になりました’ (‘Osewani narimashita’) will be the perfect phrase for you to express your heartfelt thanks to your hosts at the end of your programme. Meaning ‘thank you for taking care of me,’ this phrase carries with it a whole spectrum of meaning, ranging from feelings of guilt for causing trouble to your host to a sense of gratitude for learning many invaluable lessons from him. As the saying goes, “Parting is such sweet sorrow,” you may be so overwhelmed by tons of mixed emotions at the thought of leaving your wonderful hosts that you can’t find the words to express them. Thank goodness for ‘Osewani narimashita’! On a lighter note, even if you stay at a ryokan for a night or two, you can also use ‘Osewani narimashita’ to show the hotel staff your appreciation of the impeccable ‘omotenashi’ (hospitality) that they exhibit!

Sumimasen That must be raising your eyebrows now. After all, ‘sumimasen’ means ‘I’m sorry’ or ‘Excuse me’ in Japanese, right? Why is it that it can be used to mean ‘thank you’? Well, when someone goes out of their way to render you assistance, it is recommended that you use ‘sumimasen’ because you are “apologizing” for the inconvenience you unwittingly subject them to. For example, when a kind stranger escorts you personally to your intended destination after you ask him for directions, you can thank him by saying ‘sumimasen’ profusely. The same goes for the nice lady at the tourist information counter who patiently explains to you how to get to various places of interest. Coupled with a bright and sincere ‘arigato gozaimasu’, ‘sumimasen’ will be music to the ears of your Japanese interlocutors!

Now that you are armed with these four phrases, you are empowered with the ability to express thanks to Japanese people in myriad situations. Language is the lubricant of social relationships, so do sprinkle them into your conversations to better your encounters with Japanese people!