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Forum Rocket Japanese Japanese Vocab Meaning of arigato gozaimasu and arigato gozaimashita?

Meaning of arigato gozaimasu and arigato gozaimashita?

ashwinr

ashwinr

Is there any difference between the meaning of arigato gozaimasu or arigato gozaimashita? Sometimes it end with *masu* and sometimes with *shita*. Does it matter which one I use?
Sayaka-Matsuura

Sayaka-Matsuura

Konnichiwa! The endings ~masu, and ~mashita are different tenses.

*Tabemasu* can express "I eat (now)" or "I will eat (sometime later" depending on context.

So, for example, to say _"I will eat sushi tomorrow"_ you would say *Ashita osushi o tabemasu.*

To say _"I eat sushi now"_ - is *Ima osushi o tabemasu.* *Tabemashita* on the other hand means _"I ate"_.

Now, here's where it may get a bit tricky... saying *arigato gozaimasu* or *arigato gozaimashita* actually expresses "thank you". Either one will work when showing appreciation to something done to you. -Sayaka :P
ashwinr

ashwinr

[quo]*Quote from * Sayaka Konnichiwa! The endings ~masu, and ~mashita are different tenses. *Tabemasu* can express "I eat (now)" or "I will eat (sometime later" depending on context. So, for example, to say _"I will eat sushi tomorrow"_ you would say *Ashita osushi o tabemasu.* To say _"I eat sushi now"_ - is *Ima osushi o tabemasu.* *Tabemashita* on the other hand means _"I ate"_. Now, here's where it may get a bit tricky...saying *arigato gozaimasu* or *arigato gozaimashita* actually expresses the say "thank you". Either one will work when showing appreciation to something done to you. -Sayaka :P[/quo] :) actually I did mean when in combination with Arigato. So there is no real difference when using one of the both? I was wondering because have seen both being used.
Sayaka-Matsuura

Sayaka-Matsuura

Ashwinr-san, Let me rephrase my explanation - although I did mention that you can use both *Arigato gozaimasu* and *Arigato gozaimashita* in similar situations - there is a basic difference you should remember - :

*Arigato gozaimasu* is in the present tense - so is used when thanking someone for an action done at that moment. SO, for example, someone gives you a gift - then as you receive it, you would say *Arigato gozaimasu*.

Another example is, you're looking for a restaurant - you ask someone on the street who says "Follow me, I'll take you there" - in such case, you say *Arigato gozaimasu* - as the action of kindness is happening at the present time.

On the other hand, let's say someone came to visit you (at home), when he/she is leaving, you would say _"Thank you for coming"_ - and so, in this case, you use the phrase *Arigato gozaimashita*. The *~mashita* ending refers to a past event.

Hope that helps! -Sayaka :P

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