Translation guide
The feeling of owing someone thanks or a favor for their kindness or help. In Japanese, this is often expressed through set phrases and culturally significant concepts like on and giri.
Expressing that you feel you owe someone for a past favor or kindness.
Literally 'there is on (debt of gratitude)'. A common way to say you feel indebted to someone.
彼には大きな恩がある。
I owe him a great debt of gratitude.
Literally 'there is a debt'. Used for both financial and emotional debts, but in context can mean a debt of gratitude.
彼に借りがあるから、助けてあげたい。
I owe him one, so I want to help him.
A more formal way to say you feel a debt of gratitude.
彼の支援に深い恩義を感じています。
I feel a deep debt of gratitude for his support.
Talking about returning a favor or showing gratitude for past kindness.
The standard phrase for repaying a debt of gratitude. Often used in personal contexts.
いつか恩返しをしたい。
I want to repay the favor someday.
Literally 'return a debt'. Can be used for both financial and emotional debts.
彼に借りを返すために、全力を尽くした。
I did my best to repay my debt to him.
A more formal or literary expression for repaying a kindness.
彼の恩に報いるために、私はここにいる。
I am here to repay his kindness.
Expressing that the kindness received is so great it can never be fully repaid.
Literally 'cannot repay the debt of gratitude'. Used to express deep gratitude when words or actions feel insufficient.
あなたには恩返しができないほど感謝しています。
I am so grateful to you that I can never repay you.
An idiomatic expression meaning you are so indebted to someone that you cannot sleep with your feet pointing toward them (a sign of disrespect). Implies a lasting debt of gratitude.
彼には足を向けて寝られない。
I owe him so much I can never repay him.
Referring to the social obligation or duty to repay a kindness, often in formal or traditional contexts.
The concept of duty or obligation, often tied to social relationships. While broader than 'debt of gratitude', it frequently overlaps when talking about repaying favors.
義理を果たすために、彼はその仕事を引き受けた。
He took on the job to fulfill his obligation.
A compound referring to duty and human feelings, often used in discussions of traditional Japanese values.
恩 (on) specifically refers to a debt of gratitude or kindness, while 借り (kari) is a general debt (financial or otherwise). In emotional contexts, 恩 is more precise, but 借り is common in casual speech.
Avoid literal translations like 感謝の借金. Use the natural phrases provided instead.
彼は義理人情に厚い人だ。
He is a man of strong duty and compassion.