Japanese word

お礼

Pronunciation

Romajiorei

Meaning

  • nounthanks

Example

友達にお礼を言います。tomo dachi ni o rei o i i ma su

I say thank you to my friend.

Illustration for お礼 (thanks)

More examples

先生にお礼を言います。sen sei ni o rei o i i ma su

I say thank you to my teacher.

親切にしてくれた人へ、お礼の手紙を書きました。shin setsu ni shi te ku re ta hito e o rei no te gami o ka ki ma shi ta

I wrote a thank-you letter to the person who was kind to me.

Core concept

Expresses gratitude through words, actions, or a gift in response to someone's kindness.

Common phrases

  • お礼を言うo rei o yū

    say thank you

  • お礼をするo rei o su ru

    give thanks

  • お礼を伝えるo rei o tsuta e ru

    express thanks

  • お礼の気持ちo rei no ki mo chi

    feeling of gratitude

Similar words

感謝kansha: Gratitude felt or expressed in response to kindness, help, or a favor.
謝意shai: A polite and formal expression of gratitude for help or consideration.

Definition in Japanese

人から受けた親切や世話に対して、感謝の気持ちを表す言葉や行い。hito ka ra u ke ta shin setsu ya se wa ni tai shi te kan sha no ki mo chi o arawa su koto ba ya okona i

Word origin

The Japanese word お礼 (orei, "thanks") combines the honorific prefix お (o) with 礼 (rei, "courtesy or gratitude"), a Sino-Japanese element ultimately borrowed from Chinese.

Usage tips

  • Although お礼 (orei) means thanks or gratitude, it is a noun rather than the spoken equivalent of the English interjection thanks.

Other meanings

  • gratitudenoun

Word lists with this word