How are these expressions different?

[espen180]

Watching tv-shows, anime and so on, I have heard three ways Japanese people generally show gratitude.

- Arigatou
- Arigatou na
- Arigatou Gozaimasu

Is there any difference between these expressions? If so, what?

Thank you in advance.

 

[Soloistic]

They all pretty much mean the same thing.
Thank you
Thank you (na adds a casual emphasis)
Thank you very much

 

[Damicci]

I would say:

Thanks
Hey, thanks.
Thank you very much.

 

[dreamer]

And you have many ways of saying that.
you've probably already heard "dōmo arigatō", "dōmo arigatō gozaimasu", "dōmo arigatō gozaimashita" as well.

There might be some other ways of saying "thank you" in more polite way such as "kansha shite imasu" or even more polite "kansha shite orimasu", but more experienced people will be able to provide a better description than me.

 

[espen180]

What does 'dōmo' add to the phrase?

 

[aardwolf]

dōmo is the difference between "Thanks" and "Thank you very much"

dōmo = Thanks
dōmo arigatō = Thank you very much (but less strong than 'arigatō gozaimasu')
arigatō gozaimasu = Thank you very much
dōmo arigatō gozaimasu= Thank yo very much (much stronger and politer)

I think this is about right, although im not sure how 'strong' the thank you is with domo, or how polite it is. Just my take on it. Please correct me if i am wrong

 

[Elizabeth]

dōmo is the difference between "Thanks" and "Thank you very much"

dōmo = Thanks
dōmo arigatō = Thank you very much (but less strong than 'arigatō gozaimasu')
arigatō gozaimasu = Thank you very much
dōmo arigatō gozaimasu= Thank yo very much (much stronger and politer)

I think this is about right, although im not sure how 'strong' the thank you is with domo, or how polite it is. Just my take on it. Please correct me if i am wrong

arigatou - "thanks"
doumo - "thanks"
arigatou gozaimasu - "thank you"
doumo arigatou - same as arigatou, but more emphasis - "thanks so much"
doumo arigatou gozaimasu - "thank you very much"

"Doumo" can be closer to a polite "thank you," too, said in the right place. Of course the word has other meanings as well, so I advise sticking it in a "thanks' expression of gratitude for now...

 

[aardwolf]

arigatou - "thanks"
doumo - "thanks"
arigatou gozaimasu - "thank you"
doumo arigatou - same as arigatou, but more emphasis - "thanks so much"
doumo arigatou gozaimasu - "thank you very much"

"Doumo" can be closer to a polite "thank you," too, said in the right place. Of course the word has other meanings as well, so I advise sticking it in a "thanks' expression of gratitude for now...

Hmm, i remember reading that doumo has many usages but ive never come across any others

 

[FrustratedDave]

Hmm, i remember reading that doumo has many usages but ive never come across any others

That is one use.