Page 17 - Easy Japanese - Learn to Speak Japanese Quickly! (TUTTLE)

doctors, lawyers or someone else who is a “master” in their field (generally a
very senior person). You should not use -san to refer to people in these roles.
Hai means “that’s right”, “present” (in roll call), or “here you are” (handing
something over).

Requesting and Offering

Onegai-shimasu お願いします I cordially request…
Dōzo どうぞ go ahead; help yourself

Onegai-shimasu is a polite expression asking for help or requesting for things
and actions. It is also equivalent to “Thank you in advance” for a requested
favor. Dōzo is used to offer things or invite people to go ahead and help
themselves.

Thanking and Apologizing

A(a) あ（あ） oh; ah
Dōmo どうも thank you; I’m sorry

Arigatō ありがとう thank you
Arigatō gozaimasu ありがとうございます thank you (polite)

Arigatō gozaimashita ありがとうございまし thank you for what
た you’ve done

Ie, i’ie (formal), iya いえ、いいえ、いや no; that’s wrong
(casual)
Dō itashimashite どういたしまして you’re welcome; don’t
mention it

Dōmo expresses gratitude or apology. When combined with arigatō (gozaimasu)

or sumimasen, it intensifies the meaning—“Thank you very much”.
Arigatō (gozaimasu) expresses thanks in general. You should never use the
short form with your superiors because it is too casual.
Gozaimashita is used when the act is completed while gozaimasu indicates
that the act is ongoing.

I’ie and its variations indicate negation. When used as a response to “thank
you” or an apology, repeating it twice—i’ie, i’ie—is common.

Sumimasen すみません thank you; I’m sorry