Hello, I’m Kodak.
If you have studied a few Japanese greetings, you have probably seen ございます (gozaimasu) many times:
Arigatō gozaimasu.
Thank you.
おはようございます
Ohayō gozaimasu.
Good morning.
おめでとうございます
Omedetō gozaimasu.
Congratulations.
ございます is a very polite form related to ある, meaning “to exist” or “there is/are.”
It also appears in でございます, a more formal version of です.
ございます (gozaimasu) can mean “there is,” “there are,” “to be,” or “to exist” in very polite Japanese.
However, it often does not have a separate English translation. In fixed phrases such as ありがとうございます, it mainly makes the expression more complete and polite.
This article explains:
② whether you can use gozaimasu on its own
③ the difference between あります and ございます
④ the difference between です and でございます
⑤ why it appears in ありがとうございます and おはようございます
⑥ its origin, pronunciation, conjugation, and natural examples
What Does Gozaimasu Mean in English?
ございます has two important uses for beginners.
A more polite version of あります.
Use 2: でございます = am / is / are
A more formal version of です.
Use 1: ございます Means “There Is” or “There Are”
まだ在庫がございます。
Mada zaiko ga gozaimasu.
We still have it in stock. / There is still stock available.
お手洗いは二階にございます。
Otearai wa nikai ni gozaimasu.
The restroom is on the second floor.
何かご質問はございますか。
Nanika go-shitsumon wa gozaimasu ka?
Do you have any questions? / Are there any questions?
In ordinary conversation, あります is usually enough.
Use 2: でございます Means “Am,” “Is,” or “Are”
When ございます follows で, the pattern でございます works as a highly polite form of です.
私は田中でございます。
Watashi wa Tanaka de gozaimasu.
I am Tanaka.
こちらが新しいメニューでございます。
Kochira ga atarashii menyū de gozaimasu.
This is the new menu.
本日は休業日でございます。
Honjitsu wa kyūgyōbi de gozaimasu.
Today is a business holiday.
学生です becomes 学生でございます—not 学生ございます.
I am a student.
⇒ normal polite Japanese
学生でございます。
I am a student.
⇒ more formal, ceremonious, or service-oriented
Can You Use Gozaimasu on Its Own?
Yes, ございます can be used on its own when the missing subject or item is already clear from the conversation.
Zaiko wa gozaimasu ka?
Do you have it in stock?
はい、ございます。
Hai, gozaimasu.
Yes, we do. / Yes, there is.
The object is omitted because both speakers already know what they are discussing.
Here is another natural example:
Are there any available seats?
はい、ございます。
Yes, there are.
However, gozaimasu by itself is not a general greeting and does not mean “thank you.”
Use ありがとう, ありがとうございます, or どうもありがとうございます.
Thank you.
○ ありがとう。
Thanks.
× ございます。
Not a normal standalone way to say “thank you.”
How to Write and Pronounce ございます
Hiragana: ご・ざ・い・ま・す
Romaji: gozaimasu
Mora count: 5 morae
The word can be written with kanji as 御座います, but modern Japanese normally writes it in hiragana as ございます.
For learning purposes, keep all five morae in mind: go-za-i-ma-su.
ございます vs あります: What Is the Difference?
Both can express the existence or availability of a nonliving thing.
polite and normal
common in everyday conversation
ございます
more polite and formal
common in stores, hotels, offices, announcements, and customer service
トイレは二階にあります。
The restroom is on the second floor.
⇒ normal polite Japanese
お手洗いは二階にございます。
The restroom is on the second floor.
⇒ more formal and service-oriented
Conjugation of ございます
ございません — there is not / there are not
ございました — there was / there were
ございませんでした — there was not / there were not
ございますか — is there? / are there?
ございましたら — if there is / if you have
申し訳ございません。
Mōshiwake gozaimasen.
I am very sorry.
昨日、システム障害がございました。
Kinō, shisutemu shōgai ga gozaimashita.
There was a system failure yesterday.
ご不明な点がございましたら、Noticesください。
Go-fumei na ten ga gozaimashitara, oshirase kudasai.
Please let us know if you have any questions.
ございます vs です: What Is the Difference?
です and でございます can communicate the same basic information, but their formality differs.
standard polite form
natural in daily conversation, school, and most workplaces
でございます
more formal and ceremonious
common in customer service, formal introductions, announcements, and speeches
こちらは予約席です。
Kochira wa yoyakuseki desu.
This is a reserved seat.
こちらは予約席でございます。
Kochira wa yoyakuseki de gozaimasu.
This is a reserved seat.
Good Japanese is not about choosing the most polite form every time. It is about matching the relationship and situation.
Learn more: Desu vs Da—When Should You Use Each Form?
Why Is Gozaimasu Used in ありがとうございます?
In expressions such as ありがとうございます, the word ございます adds politeness and completes a traditional adjective-based construction.
grateful; appreciated; literally “difficult to exist” or “rare” in origin
↓
ありがたく + ございます
an older polite pattern
↓
ありがとうございます
thank you
The sound changed from ありがたく to ありがとう in this fixed polite expression. A similar historical pattern appears in おはようございます, connected with 早い (hayai: early).
Adding ございます makes them more polite.
Thanks.
⇒ casual
ありがとうございます。
Thank you.
⇒ polite
おはよう。
Morning!
⇒ casual
おはようございます。
Good morning.
⇒ polite
Learn more: Arigatou Gozaimasu Meaning and Pronunciation
Common Phrases with Gozaimasu
ありがとうございます — Thank You
ご親切にありがとうございます。
Go-shinsetsu ni arigatō gozaimasu.
Thank you for your kindness.
おはようございます — Good Morning
先生、おはようございます。
Sensei, ohayō gozaimasu.
Good morning, teacher.
おめでとうございます — Congratulations
ご結婚おめでとうございます。
Go-kekkon omedetō gozaimasu.
Congratulations on your marriage.
申し訳ございません — I Am Very Sorry
お待たせして、申し訳ございません。
Omatase shite, mōshiwake gozaimasen.
I am very sorry to have kept you waiting.
ようこそお越しくださいました / Welcome
You may hear ようこそお越しくださいました or other formal welcome expressions in service settings. Although learners sometimes expect every polite phrase to contain ございます, politeness can be created in many different ways.
Can Gozaimasu Be Used for People?
In modern standard Japanese, use います for the ordinary existence of people and animals, and いらっしゃいます when respectfully referring to a person.
Mr. Tanaka is in the office.
⇒ standard polite
田中様は事務所にいらっしゃいます。
Mr. Tanaka is in the office.
⇒ respectful
× 田中様は事務所にございます。
Not the normal modern way to describe a person’s location.
Modern usage has changed, so learners should follow today’s distinction: ございます for things and formal statements, and いらっしゃいます for respected people.
The Origin and Etymology of Gozaimasu
The history of ございます is a good example of how a concrete respectful expression can gradually become a general marker of politeness.
御座 (goza)
an honored seat or the presence of a high-ranking person
↓
御座有る (goza aru)
a highly respectful expression related to “to be / to exist”
↓
ござる (gozaru)
a shortened historical form
↓
ござります (gozarimasu)
ござる + polite ます
↓
ございます (gozaimasu)
the modern form produced through sound change
The form ございます developed in Edo-period language from ござります. Over time, it became the common polite form still used today.
However, でござる now sounds old-fashioned and is strongly associated with period dramas, samurai characters, and playful imitation. でございます is still normal in formal modern Japanese.
Gozaimasu in Anime, Games, and Character Speech
In anime and games, speech style helps establish a character’s personality. You may hear ございます from:
・butlers and maids
・formal announcers
・characters from wealthy or traditional families
・characters who speak in an extremely polite or theatrical way
This is the venue.
ご主人様、お食事の準備ができてございます。
Master, the meal is ready.
⇒ stylized character speech; not the most neutral everyday phrasing
拙者は旅の者でござる。
I am a traveler.
⇒ old-fashioned or samurai-style speech
You may sound theatrical only when you use it constantly in relaxed conversation where ordinary です would be more natural.
Common Beginner Mistakes with Gozaimasu
Mistake 1: Using Gozaimasu Alone to Mean “Thank You”
Not a standard standalone “thank you.”
○ ありがとうございます。
Thank you.
Mistake 2: Replacing Desu Without Adding で
○ 私は学生でございます。
I am a student.
Mistake 3: Using Gozaimasu for a Person’s Location
○ 先生は教室にいらっしゃいます。
The teacher is in the classroom.
Mistake 4: Writing 御座います Everywhere
The kanji form exists, but ございます in hiragana is the standard modern spelling in most contexts.
Mistake 5: Thinking More Formal Always Means More Natural
Use です and あります in normal polite conversation. Save でございます and ございます for situations where the extra formality has a purpose.
For general sentences, use です and あります first. Recognize でございます and formal ございます, then begin using them when your situation calls for extra politeness.
Natural Example Sentences with Gozaimasu
本日はご予約がございますか。
Honjitsu wa go-yoyaku ga gozaimasu ka?
Do you have a reservation today?
申し訳ございませんが、満席でございます。
Mōshiwake gozaimasen ga, manseki de gozaimasu.
We are very sorry, but we are fully booked.
こちらにパンフレットがございます。
Kochira ni panfuretto ga gozaimasu.
There are brochures here.
ご希望の色はございますか。
Go-kibō no iro wa gozaimasu ka?
Is there a color you would prefer?
はい、黒がございます。
Hai, kuro ga gozaimasu.
Yes, we have black.
ただ今、担当者は不在でございます。
Tadaima, tantōsha wa fuzai de gozaimasu.
The person in charge is currently unavailable.
次の電車は十時発でございます。
Tsugi no densha wa jūji-hatsu de gozaimasu.
The next train departs at ten.
何か問題がございましたら、ご連絡ください。
Nanika mondai ga gozaimashitara, go-renraku kudasai.
Please contact us if there are any problems.
長らくお待たせして申し訳ございません。
Nagaraku omatase shite mōshiwake gozaimasen.
We sincerely apologize for keeping you waiting so long.
本日はお越しいただき、ありがとうございます。
Honjitsu wa okoshi itadaki, arigatō gozaimasu.
Thank you for coming today.
FAQ About Gozaimasu
What does gozaimasu mean in English?
It can mean “there is,” “there are,” “to exist,” or “to be” in very polite Japanese. In fixed phrases, it often adds politeness without receiving a separate English translation.
Can gozaimasu be used on its own?
Yes, when the omitted information is clear. For example, 在庫はございますか。—はい、ございます。 means “Do you have it in stock? — Yes, we do.” It is not normally used alone to mean “thank you.”
Does gozaimasu mean thank you?
No. The full phrase ありがとうございます means “thank you.” ございます alone does not normally carry that meaning.
What is the difference between arimasu and gozaimasu?
Both can describe the existence of a nonliving thing. あります is normal polite Japanese, while ございます is more formal.
What is the difference between desu and de gozaimasu?
です is the standard polite copula. でございます communicates the same basic statement with a higher degree of formality.
Is gozaimasu keigo?
Yes. ございます and でございます function as highly polite language directed toward the listener. They are generally classified as polite language rather than a verb that directly raises the status of the subject.
Can I use gozaimasu for people?
For a respected person’s presence or location, use いらっしゃいます. Modern ございます is mainly used for things, availability, and formal statements.
Why is gozaimasu written in hiragana?
The kanji spelling 御座います exists, but the grammaticalized modern expression is conventionally written as ございます.
Is de gozaru the same as de gozaimasu?
They are historically related. でござる is now old-fashioned or stylized, while でございます remains normal in formal modern Japanese.
Is gozaimasu too formal for everyday conversation?
It is natural in set greetings such as ありがとうございます. Outside fixed expressions, ordinary です and あります are usually more natural in everyday conversation.
Summary: Gozaimasu Meaning and Usage
ございます is a highly polite form connected with “to exist” or “there is/are.”
● でございます
A more formal version of です, meaning “am,” “is,” or “are.”
● On its own
It can stand alone when an understood noun is omitted: はい、ございます = “Yes, there is / Yes, we have it.”
● Not a standalone thank-you
Use the complete phrase ありがとうございます.
● Formality
あります and です are best for most normal conversations. ございます and でございます add greater formality.
● Origin
御座有る → ござる → ござります → ございます.
● Beginner priority
First master fixed phrases such as ありがとうございます, then learn to recognize formal ございます and でございます.
First ask what job it is doing: showing existence, replacing です in a formal statement, or adding politeness to a fixed expression.
Related Articles
- Japanese Formality Levels: A Beginner’s Guide to Polite Japanese
- What Does Keigo Mean? Japanese Honorific Language Explained
- Desu vs Da: What Is the Difference?
- Arigatou Gozaimasu Meaning and Pronunciation
References
- Kotobank: 御座います
- Kotobank: 御座有る
- Kotobank: 御座る
- Agency for Cultural Affairs: The Basics of Japanese Honorific Language
- The Japan Foundation: あります／います and Omitted Topics