You've probably heard this phrase a million times in TV shows, movies, and songs.
However most people pronounce it incorrectly. Similar to "Konnichiwa" where the emphasis is on the "N" being held which a lot of people miss, with "Arigatou" the focus is on the "R" which is more of a soft "L" sound. Try touching the roof of your mouth ever so slightly as you pronounce the "R" to make it sound a lot more natural.
There are also words you can add to change the meaning of the "thank you":
Domo arigato (どうもありがとう) Thanks a lot.
Arigatou gozaimashita (ありがとうございました) To say thanks for something that's been done for you.
Arigatou gozaimasu (ありがとうございます。) A very formal way of saying thank you.
So let's say for example you're in the middle of a zombie apocalypse in Japan, and someone smashes a zombie's head, just as it was about to take a bite out of your arm. You could turn round and say...
"Sore o koroshite kurete arigatou gozaimashita" which means "Thank you for killing it!"
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