I see your point with regards to slang usage versus classical, safe usage. As I first said above in my reply to 1718's question, however, maido ari is the most natural way to say it that comes to (my) mind. That is to say, if I were ever found myself in the situation of wanting to say "thanks for everything friend" to a friend of mine who speaks Japanese, *I* would most likely say "Maido ari~".Zepy wrote:I am aware of the usage that you refer to, however that is a local slang that you do not use in a global setting. Why don't you ask your friends if it is fine for a person who does not know japanese to say that phrase to a japanese friend?
It might be presumptuous of me to assume the same factors that cause me to say "Maido ari~" (e.g. me being a dumb-ass foreign kid who doesn't know that much Japanese and talks mainly to college-age friends in Tokyo) as opposed to, say, "itsumo arigatou", hold for 1718's position as well. If that's the case, I'd apologise, but I was trying to give a phrase that would convey what he wanted to say in a friendly, casual, easygoing manner.