BEGINNER CULTURE JAPANESE Q&A

「ありがとうございます」 vs 「ありがとうございました」“Arigatou gozaimasu” vs “Arigatou gozaimashita”

Contents
  1. 💬 Basic Meanings:
  2. 📌 Key Difference (explained in English):
  3. 🗂️ Example Situations
  4. ✨ Extra Tip (Native Nuance):

💬 Basic Meanings:

  • ありがとうございます (Arigatou gozaimasu)
    = “Thank you (very much).”
    • Polite, present tense
    • Used while the favor is happening or immediately after
    • Also used for general ongoing gratitude
  • ありがとうございました (Arigatou gozaimashita)
    = “Thank you (very much).” (past tense)
    • Polite, past tense
    • Used when the favor, service, or event is completed
    • Expresses appreciation for something that has already happened

📌 Key Difference (explained in English):

ExpressionTenseContext ExampleWhen to Use
Arigatou gozaimasuPresentYou are still receiving helpDuring or right after the favor
Arigatou gozaimashitaPastThe help/event has finishedWhen everything is done

In simple terms:

  • “Gozaimasu” = now / ongoing thanks
  • “Gozaimashita” = thank you for something that’s finished

🗂️ Example Situations

✅ Using ありがとうございます (Present Tense)

  1. A colleague just handed you a report.
    ➤ 「ありがとうございます！」
    ➤ “Thank you!”
  2. You’re entering a restaurant and the staff welcomes you.
    ➤ Staff: 「ご来店ありがとうございます。」
    ➤ “Thank you for coming.”
  3. Someone just picked up something you dropped.
    ➤ 「助かりました、ありがとうございます！」
    ➤ “You saved me, thank you!”

✅ Using ありがとうございました (Past Tense)

  1. You’re leaving a store after shopping.
    ➤ Staff: 「ありがとうございました。」
    ➤ “Thank you very much.”
  2. At the end of a meeting or class.
    ➤ 「本日はありがとうございました。」
    ➤ “Thank you for today.”
  3. After someone helped you move last weekend.
    ➤ 「先週は本当にありがとうございました。」
    ➤ “Thank you so much for last week.”

✨ Extra Tip (Native Nuance):

If you’re still in the moment, even slightly, 「ありがとうございます」 is safer.
Once it’s clearly over, 「ありがとうございました」 is better and more natural.