expression
Polite expression of gratitude, more formal than ありがとう. Used in business, with strangers, or when showing respect.
ご親切にありがとうございます。
Thank you very much for your kindness.
本日はお越しいただき、ありがとうございます。
Thank you for coming today.
Casual form of thank you; used with friends and family. ありがとうございます is the polite version.
Emphatic polite thank you; adds どうも for extra politeness or emphasis.
Can also express gratitude, especially for a favor or service, but primarily means 'excuse me' or 'I'm sorry'.
From 有り難う (arigatou, 'difficult to exist', i.e., rare and precious) + ございます (gozaimasu, polite form of ある). The phrase originally expressed that something was rare and therefore appreciated.