# Question for Japanese speakers **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 7, 2008, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-japanese-speakers/444361 "2008-04-07T18:47:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![The\_Controvert](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dec6dc/32.png) [@The\_Controvert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Controvert)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2008, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-japanese-speakers/444361/1 "2008-04-07T18:47:18Z")
“Domo arigato” means “thank you very much”, but what does “domo” and “arigato” mean, literally? I thought “domo” might have had another meaning. Domo arigato! ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2008, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-japanese-speakers/444361/2 "2008-04-07T19:08:46Z")
I’d translate it as follows: _Domo_ = thanks (but even less polite) _Domo arigato_ = thank-you _Arigato gozaymasu_ = thank-you very much What the individual words mean by themselves… I’ll leave that up to a native speaker. ---
**Author:** ![Alive\_At\_Both\_Ends](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/73ab20/32.png) [@Alive\_At\_Both\_Ends](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alive_At_Both_Ends)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2008, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-japanese-speakers/444361/3 "2008-04-07T19:28:56Z")
“Arigato” is an honorific form of the adjective “arigatai” meaning “indebted”. “Domo” means “very”. So, “I’m very indebted to you” is the literal meaning. ---
**Author:** ![Cerowyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/82dd89/32.png) [@Cerowyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cerowyn)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2008, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-japanese-speakers/444361/4 "2008-04-07T19:34:46Z")
_Domo_ (or _doumo_, どうも ) in the context of _domo arigato_ is usually translated as “very.” However, as **John Mace** points out, it can be used by itself to mean “thanks” (casually). It is also often used [by itself] as a greeting. However, I can’t think of any other case in which _domo_ means “very.” Other translations for “very” are: _tottemo_ とっても, _taihen_ 大変 and _hijoni_ 非常に. ---
**Author:** ![Alive\_At\_Both\_Ends](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/73ab20/32.png) [@Alive\_At\_Both\_Ends](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alive_At_Both_Ends)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2008, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-japanese-speakers/444361/5 "2008-04-07T19:37:58Z")
BTW, “gozaimasu” is an honorific verb meaning “to be” (plain form gozaru). It occurs in three common phrases - “Ohayo gozaimasu” (good morning), “Arigato gozaimasu” (thank you), and “Omedeto gozaimasu” (Congratulations). The literal meanings are “it’s early” (hayai desu), “I’m indebted” (arigatai desu), and “it’s auspicious” (medetai desu). ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2008, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-japanese-speakers/444361/6 "2008-04-07T19:40:21Z")
[QUOTE=Alive At Both Ends] “Arigato” is an honorific form of the adjective “arigatai” meaning “indebted”. “Domo” means “very”. So, “I’m very indebted to you” is the literal meaning. [/QUOTE] Am I remembering right that _arigato_ can be used to mean “thank you” by itself? No _domo_ necessary? ---
**Author:** ![Alive\_At\_Both\_Ends](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/73ab20/32.png) [@Alive\_At\_Both\_Ends](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alive_At_Both_Ends)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2008, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-japanese-speakers/444361/7 "2008-04-07T19:42:11Z")
[QUOTE=bordelond] Am I remembering right that _arigato_ can be used to mean “thank you” by itself? No _domo_ necessary? [/QUOTE] It certainly can. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2008, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-japanese-speakers/444361/8 "2008-04-07T19:47:45Z")
My experience (and I am not a native speaker) is that “\*domo” \*by itself for “thanks” would be somewhat dismissive. Kind of like saying: I’m much higher status than you, and I don’t really have to say “thanks”, but I will. Is that about right? ---
**Author:** ![Cerowyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/82dd89/32.png) [@Cerowyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cerowyn)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2008, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-japanese-speakers/444361/9 "2008-04-07T19:51:10Z")
[QUOTE=Alive At Both Ends] “Arigato” is an honorific form of the adjective “arigatai” meaning “indebted”. [/QUOTE] Do you mean “indebted” in the sense of _ongi_ 恩義? Because every dictionary I have translates _arigatai_ as “grateful” (although Oxford gives “thankful” as a second definition). ---
**Author:** ![Alive\_At\_Both\_Ends](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/73ab20/32.png) [@Alive\_At\_Both\_Ends](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alive_At_Both_Ends)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2008, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-japanese-speakers/444361/10 "2008-04-07T19:52:35Z")
I ought to mention that I’m not a native speaker either, but I believe you’re right about domo on its own. I wouldn’t use it on its own to Japanese people in Japan, being a foreigner. \*\*Cerowyn \*\*- I regard “thankful” “grateful” and “indebted” as near synonyms. YMMV. ---
**Author:** ![Cerowyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/82dd89/32.png) [@Cerowyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cerowyn)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2008, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-japanese-speakers/444361/11 "2008-04-07T19:55:10Z")
[QUOTE=John Mace] My experience (and I am not a native speaker) is that “\*domo” \*by itself for “thanks” would be somewhat dismissive. Kind of like saying: I’m much higher status than you, and I don’t really have to say “thanks”, but I will. Is that about right? [/QUOTE] Not in my experience, but I’m not a native speaker, either. In a Starbucks, I’ll say _domo_ when they give me my coffee (or, sometimes _sumimasen_ if it’s a fancy coffee, since there’s more effort involved). I usually explain _domo_ by itself as being the equivalent of “thanks” rather than “thank-you,” keeping in mind that there are fewer occasions when the more casual is acceptable in Japan than in North America. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2008, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-japanese-speakers/444361/12 "2008-04-07T19:59:41Z")
Translating some of this Japanese stuff into English… hmmm, _taihen desu ne_! ---
**Author:** ![jovan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/0ea827/32.png) [@jovan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jovan)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2008, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-japanese-speakers/444361/13 "2008-04-08T00:53:38Z")
This has largely been answered, but I’ll just cover a little bit more for extra points: _Domo_, or more accurately _dōmo_ is most often used to stress an expression of thanks. By extension, it can be used by itself as a short, casual expression of thanks. As mentioned, it is merely casual and carries no dismissive undertones. _Dōmo_ is also used in the following situations, which are unrelated to expressions of thanks: - To express mild perplexity: _Dōmo komatta_ (Hmm, what should I do?) - To express that things aren’t going as one wishes: _Dōmo umaku ikanai_ (No matter what, things aren’t working out.) - To express lack of understanding at a situation: _Dōmo kare ga shachō ni natta rashii_ (Can you believe it, I heard he became the head of the company.) _Arigatō_, etymologically comes from the verb _aru_ and the suffix _-gatai_. _Aru_ means “to be (in a place)”. In modern Japanese, it’s only used for inanimate objects but in classical Japanese, it’s used for people. The _-gatai_ ending expresses difficulty, and transforms the verb in an adjective. _Shinjiru_ = believe, _Shinjigatai_ = hard to believe. So _arigatai_ means literally that it’s difficult to be. In other words, I’m so overwhelmed by your kindness that I have difficulty just being in your presence. That’s just etymology, though, these kinds of thoughts don’t go through a modern speaker’s mind when they casually drop an _arigatō_. The _-tō_ ending comes from the adjectival form _arigataku_, which in classical Japanese becomes _arigatō_ in the connective form. The same transformation happens with _omedetai_ -\> _omedetaku_ -\> _omodetō_ (congratulations). ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2008, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-japanese-speakers/444361/14 "2008-04-08T01:22:28Z")
[QUOTE=jovan] This has largely been answered, but I’ll just cover a little bit more for extra points: _Domo_, or more accurately _dōmo_ is most often used to stress an expression of thanks. By extension, it can be used by itself as a short, casual expression of thanks. As mentioned, it is merely casual and carries no dismissive undertones. [/QUOTE] Perhaps “dismissive” was too strong a word. Wouldn’t it be considered impolite in some circumstances-- ie, if you were saying “thanks” to your boss? In American English, “thanks” is informal, but never impolite-- unless you intend it to be. Your boss wouldn’t bat an eye if you said “thanks” to him or her, as long as you didn’t use in impolite tone. ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2008, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-japanese-speakers/444361/15 "2008-04-08T02:01:23Z")
Just tacking on a few more points. _Domo_ can also be used as a greeting in a long-term or friendly business / customer relationship. I just called a customer / friend and our conversation went as follows: **Kato:** _ohayou gozaimasu. Kato degozaimasu_ Good morning, this is Kato (note the initial formal greeting.) **TP:** _domo, TP desu_ This is Dave (I’m down into polite language since we’ve established it’s us talking. The _domo_ here seems to be a replacement for _osewani natteimasu_ which is a standard greeting expressing thanks for the business relationship,) telephone conversation related to his friend who is registering my car and our upcoming golf outing **TP:** _yoroshiku_ (Please take care of this) **Kato:** _demo desu_ (no problem) > [@John Mace](#): > > Perhaps “dismissive” was too strong a word. Wouldn’t it be considered impolite in some circumstances-- ie, if you were saying “thanks” to your boss? It’s inappropriate because just _domo_ wouldn’t be saying “thanks” in those circumstances. For **Ceroywn** saying _domo_ at Starbucks is really not different than saying _hai_ ”Yes” as more acknowledging that they have handed you the cup than thanking them. It’s not impolite or dismissive in this circumstance. However this is why using just it could be seen as dismissive, if the person who you have said it to does not consider them your social inferior, has make an effort or has gone out of their way to do something for you. As a general rule, you are better off using _sumimasen_ (pardon me or excuse me) when thanking socially superiors or unknown people for kindnesses. Saying “thanks” can be seen as childish, as the recipient believes they have a right to accept a kindness. There’s a fine line between expressing thanks and apologizing, but apologizing to the person for their efforts is safer if you don’t know which is appropriate. ---
**Author:** ![jovan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/0ea827/32.png) [@jovan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jovan)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2008, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-japanese-speakers/444361/16 "2008-04-08T02:32:40Z")
[QUOTE=John Mace] Perhaps “dismissive” was too strong a word. Wouldn’t it be considered impolite in some circumstances-- ie, if you were saying “thanks” to your boss? In American English, “thanks” is informal, but never impolite-- unless you intend it to be. Your boss wouldn’t bat an eye if you said “thanks” to him or her, as long as you didn’t use in impolite tone. [/QUOTE] It’s very difficult to draw parallels with English because English lacks a lot of the built-in formality that many languages have. There are English-speaking places where it’s okay to call your boss by his first name. In many cultures this would be unthinkable. Japanese society has much more strictly codified behaviour codes for inter-personal relationships. It’s as much a function of the society than language. Would you say “thanks” when talking to the Queen in a formal occasion? I suppose if you did that it would be considered too casual for the occasion and as a result impolite. I think you need to draw a distinction between an expression that’s simply too casual for some situations, like _dōmo_, and an expression where the social order is explicit. If you tell someone _tabenasai_ (eat) you are explicitly putting yourself in a position of authority. That’s okay if you’re talking to your kids but utterly unthinkable when talking to your boss.