What does Domo mean in Japanese? -Domo Japanese meaning

 どうも -pronounced “Dou-mo” is a phrase you’d come across when you eating in at an Izakaya or a restaurant. Domo is equivalent to the English version of “very much” and “very”. In many situations, the word is used to express appreciation.

“Arigato Neko” by jpmatth is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

If you know Japan, you have probably come across the phrase “Arigato” at some point. If you’re a foreigner traveling to Japan, “Arigato” is a phrase you cannot avoid using. On the other hand, Domo is a much shorter way of saying Arigato.

Let’s say that you’re leaving the restaurant with your friend. A conversation between you and the shop-keeper could sound like this:

You: ごちそうさまでした。
It was very delicous.

Shop-keeper: どうもありがとうございました。
Thank you for eating at our place.

You: どうも。
Domo.

“Izakaya in Shibuya” by fakelvis is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0

What’s useful about Domo is that it can have different meanings in certain situations. It can be mean “hello” when you arrive and “bye” when you leave.

The phrase also has a negative connotation. It is used when you want to sincerely apologize to someone. The direct translation of this word is “very” in the same context as “I’m very sorry”. In Japan, people often use this word towards a stranger or a superior. If you bump into someone by accident, it is appropriate to say:

You: どうもすみません！
I’m very sorry!

What’s an interesting fact about “Domo”?

In Japan, mascot characters are created to represent many companies and regions. In fact, Japan has a “Domo-kun（どーもくん）” mascot. He is an official mascot created by Japan’s public broadcast (NHK). His concept derives from the greetings in Japanese morning television.

“Mascot Convention” by Jeffrey Beall is licensed under CC BY-ND 2.0

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